John Austin is an educator and speaker known for helping individuals and organizations build capability and confidence in uncertain environments. He serves as the dean of the Honors College and the P.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of Business at the University of New England, where his work sits at the intersection of management, psychology, and foresight. For more than two decades, he has supported leaders in industries where change is constant and the future is often unexpected.

A former professor of management at Penn State University, John left academia to launch a company—an experience that shaped his lifelong interest in how people adapt, learn, and make decisions when the path ahead is unclear. After selling the company, he served as a principal at Decision Strategies International, a global firm recognized for its pioneering work in scenario planning. During this time he continued to work with graduate students at Fielding Graduate University. In 2020, he returned to higher education to build and lead new academic initiatives at UNE, including launching both the College of Business and the Honors College. Today, he combines academic leadership with active teaching in executive education programs at the Wharton School, Penn State, Duke Corporate Education, and Georgetown University.

John holds a PhD in organization studies from Boston College and a BA in economics from Johns Hopkins University. His research has earned five Best Paper Awards and has been cited more than 2,700 times. John’s new book is Certain about Uncertainty: Build Resilience, Gain Confidence, and Thrive in a Chaotic World. He is also the author of Unquestioned Brilliance: Navigating a Fundamental Leadership Trap. His writing has appeared in Fast Company, Chief Executive, Inc., and HR Magazine, and earlier in his career, he was recognized with a Best Business Blog award.

John now lives on Peaks Island in Maine with his wife of 30 years and their rescue dog, Lucy. When he’s not teaching or writing, he’s likely running in the fog, hiking coastal trails, or kayaking in Casco Bay.