RainmakerThinking is a management research,
training and consulting firm founded in 1993 by
best-selling author Bruce Tulgan.

Hundreds of thousands of individuals have participated
in our research since 1993.

We continue to pursue three
ongoing longitudinal studies.

The Generational Shift in the Workforce (since 1993):
Monitoring the impact of generational change.

Leadership, Management, and Supervision (since 1995):
Cataloguing management challenges and the best tools and techniques for solving those challenges.

Human Capital Management (since 1997):
Cataloguing best practices in staffing, recruiting, selection, performance management, rewards, retention, succession planning, and leadership development.

Services

Keynotes & Workshops

Backed by more than two decades of research, Bruce brings his livewire energy with real-world stories and best practices from the front lines of the workplace. Powerful insights, memorable quotes, and actionable takeaways keep audiences talking about them long after the event.

For companies seeking to put our tools and techniques into practice, Bruce conducts half-day, full-day, and multi-day training workshops with smaller groups. These sessions are an opportunity for managers of any level to roll up their sleeves and work with Bruce on specific challenges they are facing. Participants will learn powerful tools and techniques they can put into action the next day.

Choose one of Bruce’s Current Topics or contact us to develop a custom presentation.

Current Topics

Organizational Assessments

We’ve worked with organizations of all shapes and sizes to develop custom human resource strategies based on our surveys, focus groups, and interviews with employees and managers. We can help you identify hidden talent, risks, and opportunities in your business.

Learn more about what we offer in our Organizational Assessments or contact us for a custom quote.

Learn More

Training

Our training services are extended engagements where we come in and work closely with your people. We help employees and managers improve communication, increase accountability, and do their part to build a winning culture in your organization.

We also provide online video training at RainmakerLearning.com

Contact us to learn more about our training services.

Virtual Services

All of our services are now available virtually! Bring Bruce to your teams, wherever they are.

Contact us to learn more about our virtual services.

Meet the Team

Bruce Tulgan

Founder & CEO

Kimberli Math

Chief Operating Officer

Cheryl Wolansky

Office Manager

Kwada Bodkin

Data Analysis Specialist

Mike Humowitz

Media Specialist

Liz Richards

Director of Media and Content

Bruce Tulgan is internationally recognized as the leading expert on young people in the workplace and one of the leading experts on leadership and management. Bruce is a best-selling author of twenty-one books, an adviser to business leaders all over the world, and a sought-after keynote speaker and management trainer.

Since 1993, Bruce has worked with tens of thousands of leaders and managers in hundreds of organizations ranging from Aetna to Wal-Mart; from the Army to the YMCA.

Bruce is the author or co-author of 21 books, including his best-selling It’s Okay to Be the Boss, the classic Managing Generation X, his popular Not Everyone Gets a Trophy: How to Manage the Millennials, and The 27 Challenges Managers Face: Step-by-step Solutions to (Nearly) All of Your Management Problems. His newest book, The Art of Being Indispensable at Work, is available now from Harvard Business Review Press.

Bruce is a lifelong practitioner of Okinawan Uechi Ryu Karate Do and holds a seventh degree black belt, making him a Kyoshi master in that style. He lives in New Haven, Connecticut with his wife Debby Applegate, Ph.D., who won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Biography for her book The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher. Her new book, Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age, is available now from Doubleday.

Kimberli Math joined RainmakerThinking in May, 2016. Prior to that she taught math (yes, as Mrs. Math), worked as a CPA, and ran her own virtual assistant & bookkeeping business. Kim is a transplant to the New England area, having moved to Connecticut from Southern California in 1999. She enjoys spending time with her family, roots for the Oakland Raiders, and has a prize-winning recipe for honey hoisin ribs.

Cheryl Wolansky came on board in the summer of 2018. Her background includes work with non-profits as well as 20 years in the education field. Cheryl is a CT native and lives with her husband and teenage sons in New Haven County. When she’s not watching baseball, Cheryl enjoys long hikes and relaxing on the beach.

Kwada, along with his creative marketing and analytical data skills joined RainmakerThinking in September, 2022. Prior to joining the team, Kwada was the Data Assistant at SEO Scholars and AmeriCorps VISTA Program Assistant with the high school team at SEO Scholars. A Marketing undergrad graduate of Siena College, Kwada recently got his master’s degree in Information Systems at Baruch College. A New York native, Kwada now resides in the Connecticut area. When he’s not keeping busy with our social media pages, you can find him reviewing new tech on YouTube or trying out new restaurants in the area. His favorite New Haven pizza spot so far is Bar. Controversial or not?

Mike brought his amazing video editing skills to RainmakerThinking back in January of 2022 part time before going full time the summer of 2022. Before joining, Mike attended Middlesex Community College to study Media Production and helped create several short films. He also interned at the local public access channel in Wallingford, CT. Mike has a joy for reading literature & philosophy, watching films, dancing, and hiking.

Liz Richards returned to RainmakerThinking in 2023. When not writing and copyediting, Liz creates as a circus artist and director in New Haven.

Speaking Program Examples

Fight the Undermanagement Epidemic (excerpt): Managing By Interruption

It’s Okay To Be The Boss (excerpt): Make Accountability a Process, Not a Slogan

The 27 Challenges Managers Face (excerpt): The Myth of Empowerment

“Our attendees had nothing but positive things to say about Bruce’s session. He was high energy, engaging and transforming. Looking forward to work with Bruce again in the future!”

Chris Winkle, President & CEO

Kentucky Broadcasters Association

“We have been really pleased to have Bruce Tulgan and his team at RainmakerThinking as strategic partners in providing top notch professional development for our employee team! Bruce takes the time to get to know your organization and seamlessly reinforces meaningful details into his program.”

Boyd Brodie, General Manager

Key Cooperative

“Bruce has been a valued leadership development partner of ours for years! His meaningful insights paired with actionable direction deliver thought-provoking sessions where leaders challenge their thoughts and transform their management approach.”

Katrina Williams, Interim Head of Sales & Integrated Technology Solutions

CDW

“[Bruce’s] message was truly aligned with our mission, values and our conference mantra of PRIDE in our Big Sky Spirit. So many great takeaways!”

Kristi Martin, President

Ted's Montana Grill

“Bruce held our partners spellbound for two and a half hours.”

Graham Baragwanath, Managing Partner

Deloitte Consulting Canada (fmr.)

“The content and delivery by Bruce Tulgan is fast paced, engaging and disturbingly accurate sending the clear signal that as the workforce changes, so must management styles to maximize productivity and employee satisfaction!”

Mitch Rose, VP of Education

International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association

“We are in an industry that is severely challenged by shortages of labor. Bruce delivered the training and tools necessary that will make a difference. He’s the best I’ve ever seen at engaging and holding people’s attention. There were a significant number of implementable, take-home ideas for our leaders.”