Our Founder
Dr. Balaji Krishnamurthy has been recognized by TIME, CNN, Wall Street Journal and other national publications for his unique and innovative style of corporate leadership. TIME magazine included him in their list of 25 Global Business Influentials for his influence on corporate leadership. Unlike most consultants, he is an operating executive with 32 years of experience running 15 different businesses – both large and small corporations, both public and private companies – during which time he has personally modeled his innovative leadership principles.
The prestigious Birla Institute of Technology and Science, in Pilani, India, awarded Dr. Krishnamurthy his BS and MS degrees in mathematics. He earned a PhD in computer science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1981. Over a 25-year career in public corporations, including General Electric, Tektronix and Planar Systems, Dr. Krishnamurthy has a strong track record of creating shareholder value by building empowered organizations with intentional cultures and strong leaders.
As President and CEO of Planar Systems from 1999 to 2005, he transformed a struggling technology company by taking it to the booming flat-panel display market. Even as the technology industry collapsed, annual sales of this Nasdaq high-tech company more than doubled under his watch, to $256 million.
With an incisive intellect and engaging communication style, coupled with an extensive background in science and technology, Dr. Krishnamurthy has become known for innovative, metric-based solutions to business challenges. For example, he placed himself last in line for payout from Planar’s variable compensation plan, explaining that “those with the highest capacity to influence results should be rewarded only if they’ve first discharged their stewardship responsibilities to other stakeholders.” Among the behavioral qualities he daily strives to build into his organization’s culture are “speed and agility,” which he models himself for anyone who tries to keep up with him. Dr. Krishnamurthy frequently speaks at national events on leadership, as well as on stewardship and transparency in corporate cultures. He hosts three different workshops with LogiStyle, covering the topics of leadership and corporate culture. Dr. Krishnamurthy defines leadership as the product of leverage and legacy. He feels leaders must seek to influence a large number of people over a time long beyond their tenure. He is known for building an intentional culture within organizations that promotes empowerment, and logical and critical thinking. Using provocative logic and a passionate style of delivery, Dr. Krishnamurthy has an uncanny ability to cause people to reconcile their personal convictions with their logical conclusions. It is only fitting that the motto of his consulting company is to help corporations develop logical leadership.
Dr. Krishnamurthy, 58, resides in Portland, Oregon. As an amateur magician he is always good for a quick card-trick. He has a passion for sports. As he says, “give me a team, rules and a goal; I’m there!”
Dr. Krishnamurthy sends out a monthly Food For Thought mailing, which outlines a different thought-provoking and controversial business concept every month. To sign up for these electronic mailings, please click here.
*If you would like to set up a one-on-one meeting with Balaji, click here to see when he will be in your area!*