John Kundtz is a startup and non-profit coach and advisor, host of "The Disruptor" Podcast, and an angel Investor/member of North Coast Ventures, helping unlock organizations' potential through strategic innovation and growth. Drawing on more than 37 years of global technology sales and consulting leadership at IBM, John pairs design thinking with customer-centric problem-solving to help mission-driven organizations scale their impact, strengthen governance, and lead with purpose. 

 

John graduated from University School in Cleveland and holds a Bachelor of Science from Denison University. He furthered his studies at the University of Cincinnati as a PhD candidate before joining IBM in 1984. He is the author of The Board Builder's Blueprint and The Five-Step Nonprofit Strategy Blueprint, and hosts The Disruptor Podcast, where he explores servant leadership and nonprofit excellence. 

 

John has served on numerous not-for-profit boards, including The Cleveland Sight Center, Three Corner Round Pack Outfitters, and Fieldstone Farm TRC. Most recently, he served as the President of the Board of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation.

 

He joined BAC in late 2025 to share his framework for scaling by design and to mentor the next generation of leaders.

 

As an Eagle Scout, John developed a love of the Himalayas, the High Sierra, and mountaineering through his studies in Geology. He is married with two adult children and lives in Greater Cleveland, where he enjoys traveling the world, trekking, live music, MLB baseball, and cataloging craft beer along the way.