Meet Jim
Dr. James (Jim) Ice, BCC, is an Organizational Sociologist and strategic leadership advisor. He is the owner of NorthStar Learning, a strategy development and talent management consulting company located in Pittsburgh, PA.
My mission is simple: to help physician leaders complement their clinical mastery with leadership mastery—becoming confident, capable, and inspiring agents of change.
The Vital Signs book series, and associated resources, are dedicated to that effort.
For more than 35 years, I’ve worked with leaders at every level across most industries. A decade ago, I shifted my focus to physician leadership because I believe great patient care depends on great leadership—and most physicians have never been given the tools they need to lead effectively.
As a coach, educator, and strategist, I offer practical, experience-backed guidance that helps physicians lead with intention, vision, and heart.
On this site, you’ll find ideas, tools, and insights I’ve shared with leaders across the globe. Feel free to share anything you find useful—with a colleague, your team, or your organization.
If it helps you lead more boldly and live more meaningfully, then I’ve accomplished my mission.
In Healthcare, leadership matters—more than ever before!
— Jim Ice
Providing Guidance for Your Journey
My Professional Journey
I am an organizational sociologist, strategic leadership advisor, and educator. For over 35 years, I've worked across a wide variety of industries to develop truly exceptional leaders who enable their team to produce amazing results. I am the owner of NorthStar Learning, a strategy and talent development consulting company, located in Pittsburgh, PA (www.jimice.org).
Investing in Physician Leaders
The current healthcare environment demands physician leaders be confident, capable, and inspiring agents of change. Although they are highly trained and passionate clinicians, most physicians have had limited preparation to be effective leaders. Therefore, over a decade ago, I pivoted my practice to developing physician leaders.
My Credentials and Experience
I bring to each engagement 35+ years’ experience developing exceptional leaders and engaging workplaces. I am a board-certified executive coach (BCC) with a specialty in strengths coaching (Gallup). Academically, I have a master’s degree in strategy, and a doctorate in leadership, with a certification in adult learning. As a Professor of Practice, I design and deliver graduate education in leadership and organizational behavior topics for several universities.
More information on me here and here.
My Core Belief
Just like becoming an effective clinician, to become an effective leader requires preparation and practice. My objective of my Vital Sign series is to help physicians complement their clinical mastery with leadership mastery — becoming confident, capable, and inspiring agents of change.
jim
“Jim offers a rare blend of strategic clarity and human insight. His Vital Signs framework is both rigorous and relatable, and deeply reflective of his characteristic clarity with humility.”
— ANN BOWERS-EVANGELISTA, PSY.D., MBA
Leadership Psychologist, Executive Coach, and Author of The Endurance Leader
