About Nathan

The short version

Nathan Murfield, Ph.D., is a research scientist turned global executive, speaker, and author of Leading Wholly. He helps leaders bring their whole selves to work; not just their strengths; so they can build trust, resilience, and lasting impact.

The longer story

I’ve spent my career asking hard questions about leadership.

Why do some leaders earn deep trust while others rely on authority?
Why do talented teams burn out instead of grow?
And why does so much leadership advice work on paper but fall apart in real life?

Early on, I thought the answers lived in data. I earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, became a research scientist, and eventually led global teams across engineering, services, and organizational transformation.

What I learned; often the hard way; is this:

No spreadsheet, framework, or title makes you a leader worth following.

The leaders people trust most aren’t perfect.
They’re whole.

They integrate competence with humility.
Standards with empathy.
Strength with self-awareness.

That realization became the foundation for Leading Wholly; a research-backed framework designed to help leaders bring their full humanity to the work without sacrificing performance or accountability.

What I believe

Leadership works best when we stop pretending we’re invincible.

I believe:

• Authenticity beats authority. People trust leaders who are real; not flawless.

• Wholeness beats toughness. Sustainable leadership comes from integration; not armor.

• Leadership is learned; not inherited. It’s a practice available to anyone willing to grow.

These beliefs guide my work as a speaker, trainer, and coach; and they shape every program I deliver.

How I work today

Through Leading Wholly, I partner with:

• Organizations developing more human, resilient leaders

• Teams navigating change, pressure, or growth

• Individual leaders ready to align who they are with how they lead

My work blends behavioral science, lived experience, and practical tools; always grounded in the reality of modern leadership.

Outside of work

Outside of writing, speaking, and coaching, my days start early; usually in my home gym, before the house wakes up. It’s a small daily practice that keeps me grounded and reminds me that consistency beats intensity.

I love walking our dog with my wife; slowing things down and catching up in a way busy days don’t always allow.

I still enjoy playing LEGO; even as my kids get older; because building things together has a funny way of revealing creativity, patience, and collaboration in real time.

And lately, a lot of my learning happens at the rink. I coach my youngest son’s youth hockey team, which turns out to be a perfect microcosm of leadership; setting expectations, managing emotions, building confidence, and remembering that development matters more than the scoreboard.