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.

What We Can Do For You

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

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.

Assessment & Consulting

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. Let us help you spot and address the risks and opportunities in the human element of your buisness.

Contact us to learn more about our assessment and consulting services.

Meet the Team

Bruce Tulgan

Founder & CEO

Kimberli Math

Chief Operating Officer

Liz Richards

Director of Creative Content

Cheryl Wolansky

Office Manager

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 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 lectures at the Yale Graduate School of Management, as well as other academic institutions, and his writing appears regularly in human resources, staffing and management journals and in dozens of magazines and newspapers such as the Harvard Business Review, BusinessWeek, HR Magazine, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. His work has been the subject of thousands of news stories around the world.

Bruce is a lifelong practitioner of Okinawan Uechi Ryu Karate Do and holds a sixth degree black belt, making him a Renshi master of the 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.

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.

Liz Richards joined RainmakerThinking in 2015. She got her start in social media working for Montasy Comics in NYC. Around the office Liz is most likely to be associated with cats, ramen, and the various attributes of lightning.

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.

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

“We loved having Bruce at our event. It’s tough to keep people engaged, but Bruce’s ideas and delivery were just what we needed. Our team has been quoting your presentation daily!”

Michael Noble, Chief Operating Officer

TTA (also known as The Training Associates)

“Thank you for the wonderful keynote! I was blown away! Obviously, you were here to instill greatness in all people. I am truly going to use these notes to finish off the year with a bang!”

Glenna Cose, Board Chairwoman

National Association of Personnel Services

“[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

“I wanted to say thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us. We loved your presentation, and have been chanting ‘more, better, faster’ all day.”

Kelly Stewart, Lead Email Marketing and Content Coordinator

TÜV SÜD

“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.”