Doug Gray, Ph.D.
Consultant
gray@thefbcg.com
P: 615.236.9845
M: 615.236.9845
Areas of Expertise
- Next Generation Education & Leadership Development
- Succession & Continuity
- Conflict & Communication Management
- Systems Theory and Family Dynamics
- Alignment Around Policies/Family Constitutions
Resources
Doug Gray, Ph.D.
Doug Gray, Ph.D. is a consultant with The Family Business Consulting Group where he specializes in leadership development, succession planning and building family unity in enterprising families. He assists family-owned firms and leadership teams with assessments and strategic solutions that leverage his expertise in positive psychology, outcome-based consulting, executive coaching, conflict resolution, family meeting facilitation and succession planning. Doug particularly enjoys developing collaborative relationships between generations of leaders so that those inside and outside the family can perpetuate the processes and systems required for continued growth. As an author and expert presenter, Doug often coaches newly promoted family business leaders on executive presence, communication skills and conflict resolution.
Doug’s personal history of family-owned businesses includes farmers and agri-business in Minnesota and South Dakota, electricians in Virginia, and consultants. Since 1997, Doug has worked with thousands of clients in multiple business sectors including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, finance, energy, safety, technology and insurance. His family business clients represent a wide variety of business sectors.
He has presented at international conferences and regularly leads seminars and workshops on Objectives and Key Results, positive psychology, leadership development, managing relationships, and preventing conflict in business and asset owning families. Since 1997 Doug has been a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation.
Doug has published articles in academic and business publications and written two books. He has served as an adjunct faculty member and guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University, Owen School of Business, Belmont University, and he co-founded and led the Leadership Development Institute at the University of Maryland at College Park for seven years.
Articles
The ZOPA Model: An approach for navigating emotional negotiations in family enterprises
Education
Doug studied at Hamilton College, in Clinton, NY and received a B.S. in Education from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. His master’s research at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH included a longitudinal study of risk-taking behavior. His Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology explored how positive psychology coaching protocols provided competitive advantages for global leaders.
Personal
Doug and his wife, Sue, live near Nashville in Franklin, Tennessee. Their two adult children live nearby, so their tradition of Sunday family dinners continues as a lively, noisy invitation for nearby friends and family. Doug serves on local boards in leadership activities. He is an active traveler and athlete.