Dr. Gerald Bell, founder of the Bell Leadership Institute, recalls his first leadership “Aha!” moment at age 29. Then a visiting professor at Harvard Business School, he was working on a consulting project with The Coca-Cola Company to recommend a new CEO. Though he intuitively identified the ideal candidate, he was unsettled by the lack of research-based evidence to support his recommendation. The candidate ultimately succeeded, but the experience left a lasting impression. The question—What makes an effective leader?—became the catalyst for Dr. Bell’s life’s work and led to the founding of the Bell Leadership Institute in 1972.

Dr. Bell’s curiosity about human behavior began long before that pivotal project. As a child, he observed people in diverse work environments: delivering newspapers at age 8, picking cherries and rogueing peas in the Midwest at 10, and later working in his father’s manufacturing business. He often wondered why some people were more engaged, enthusiastic, and successful than others. These early experiences induced the birth of curiosity for his lifelong pursuit of leadership excellence.

Over the past two decades, the Bell Leadership team has grown to include more than a dozen dedicated professionals who support clients at every step—from facilitation and research to operations and coaching—ensuring an exceptional experience and lasting results.

In 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic presented a new challenge—and opportunity. Bell Leadership quickly adapted its most popular programs into virtual formats to serve clients working remotely. These virtual offerings have since become a core part of the Institute’s services, increasing accessibility and broadening its reach worldwide.

Today, as the global environment continues to evolve—amid shifting leadership landscapes, business trends, technological advances, and economic fluctuations—the question that launched the Institute remains as critical as ever: What makes a great leader?

More than 50 years after its creation, Dr. Bell’s model continues to provide enduring answers. We are proud to share these transformative teachings with organizations around the world, helping today’s and tomorrow’s leaders prepare for whatever comes next.