Jeff Klein is Director of the Graduate Leadership Program and Wharton Leadership Ventures.  A lifelong Pennsylvanian, Jeff grew up in Allentown, PA, before attending Penn State University.  After stops in New Mexico, New Jersey, and Colorado, Jeff and his wife, Heidi, have lived in the Chestnut Hill area of Philadelphia for the past four years. 

Most recently, Jeff has served as the Associate Director of the Wharton Leadership Ventures and as a Lecturer in the Management Department.  As a lead Venture Instructor, he supports multiple expedition-based experiential leadership programs each academic year.  In addition, Jeff designs and delivers leadership workshops within the University community, serves as a Project Head in Wharton’s Field Application Program, an Instructor in leadership and group dynamics in a variety of Wharton Executive Education programs, and as a Graduate Advisor in Adventure Education at Prescott College.  He has presented the experiential education and risk management philosophies of the Wharton Leadership Ventures to a variety of industry and professional groups, including the Wilderness Risk Managers Conference, the Boston University Executive Development Roundtable, and the Graduate School of Education/Wharton Executive Education Executive Doctoral Program in Work-Based Learning Leadership.

Jeff graduated with honors from The Wharton School (MBA, Entrepreneurial Studies) and Penn State University (B.S., Finance; B.A., Media Studies).  Prior to Wharton, Jeff had a successful 8 year career at AT&T.  He joined AT&T as part of its Financial Leadership Program, graduating at the top of his class.  After graduation, Jeff was the first finance employee to transfer to AT&T Broadband, a newly-formed business unit established after the purchase of cable companies TCI, Media One, and Liberty Media.  While at AT&T Broadband, Jeff held a variety of roles within the CFO organization, including Senior Director of Financial Operations for the cable telephony product and Executive Director of Finance, Planning, and Analysis.  In this last role, Jeff led the strategic planning and budgeting process, and served as the lead finance representative on the working team that successfully negotiated the merger with Comcast that led to the unit’s sale (and Jeff’s matriculation at Wharton!).  Throughout his corporate career, Jeff grew his appreciation for authentic, creative leadership supported by thoughtful analysis and a willingness to learn through action and reflection.

Jeff’s personal interests begin at home, where he values his role as father and husband dearly.  Heidi and Jeff have a two year old daughter, Samantha, who keeps them appreciative and laughing (not to mention wishing for a little more sleep!).  He loves the outdoors, and remains ever-grateful to Heidi for teaching him to camp, mountain bike, and ski.  Jeff is also an avid reader and music fan, and delights in creating excuses to gather friends and family at locations around the world (preferably featuring live music).

Tel: 215-573-1210 Email: kleinja@wharton.upenn.edu

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