About Tom

Tom James is a writer, leadership specialist, and seasoned business strategist whose work bridges the natural world with our inner world. He is the author of Footprint (publishing date TBA), a reflective work inspired by the quiet lessons of Nature, time, and place.

With over 40 years of experience in leadership and organizational development, Tom brings a unique lens to his writing—one shaped by both personal insight and professional impact. His entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen have guided him from growing his own retail chain, to turning around a struggling company as COO, to consulting with global organizations including NASA, Roche Pharmaceuticals, and multiple Canadian ministries.

As a Leadership Specialist, Tom has coached senior executives and facilitated thousands of employees across North America and Europe. He’s collaborated with thought leaders like Dr. Stephen Covey and Dr. Spencer Johnson, helping companies navigate change through organic, self-organizing principles drawn from Nature. He believes that organizations, like all living systems, thrive when they adapt, renew, and respond to the ever-evolving needs of their ecosystems.

Tom’s storytelling approach is both grounded and expansive. Whether writing essays, guiding leadership sessions, or walking new and familiar forest paths, he invites us to observe, reflect, and consider the deeper connections between who we are and the world we shape.

His Substack is a space to share Nature-inspired reflections, quiet observations, and fresh ideas for meaningful leadership and living—through the lens of someone who’s walked many paths, both literal and metaphorical.