Robert K. Greenleaf

Robert K. Greenleaf (1904-1990) founded the Center in 1964 as the Center for Applied Ethics. Greenleaf was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, and spent most of his organizational life in the field of management, research, development, and education at AT&T.

When Greenleaf retired from AT&T in 1964, he launched a new career as speaker, writer, and consultant. Greenleaf coined the term "Servant Leadership," and wrote and spoke extensively on the subject. In 1970 he published "The Servant as Leader," an essay which launched the servant leadership movement in the United States.