About Us

Why BLG exists

Helping leaders build cultures people want to be part of.

Portrait of Michael Burde, Ph.D., founder of Burde Leadership Group

Meet the founder

Michael Burde, Ph.D.

Dr. Mike Burde built Burde Leadership Group after more than 25 years leading in complex organizations as a teacher, principal, district leader, and community leader. One lesson stayed: people do their best work when they trust one another, know what's expected, and believe their contribution matters.

Build trust. Create clarity. Connect people to meaningful work. Help people see the impact they make.

Where the experience comes from

  • More than 25 years of leadership in K-12 education
  • Teacher and principal
  • 16 years in district leadership
  • President of a statewide association and member of a national board
  • City commissioner
  • Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Western Michigan University (2016)

Our work

Leadership, Culture, Strategy

Leadership

Practical habits leaders can practice: listening that builds trust, follow-through people can count on, and feedback that improves the work.

Culture

Culture is the environment leaders create. We focus on the conditions that show up in the work, not slogans on the wall.

Strategy

Strategy only works when people experience it in daily actions. We connect direction to clear priorities and aligned teams.

In their words

What colleagues are saying

Mike Burde is one of those rare leaders who has spent his career doing more than improving schools. He has challenged the assumptions underneath how schools are designed to work. I've watched Burde Leadership Group do that; Mike isn't simply going to tell leaders what to do. He understands the messy, human work of leading change when the vision is bigger than the system's current reality. He knows that meaningful transformation requires leaders to align people, purpose, practice, and policy around a shared vision rather than simply layering new initiatives onto old ways of working. Mike has lived that work from the inside, and I believe that experience will make him an exceptional thought partner and mentor for leaders who are ready to lead beyond second-order change. I'm excited to see the impact Burde Leadership Group will have on leaders who are willing to lead with purpose, courage, and the coherence necessary to turn a compelling vision into a transformed system.

Virgel HammondsCo-Chief Executive Officer, FullScale

Read more from colleagues

Ready to strengthen the conditions where people do their best work?

Whether you're developing leaders, strengthening a team, navigating organizational change, or simply trying to determine what comes next, we'd be glad to start with a conversation.

Start a Conversation