LinkedIn Voices: Jeff Wetzler
Jeff Wetzler stands at the intersection of curiosity, leadership, and learning science. As Co-Founder of Transcend Education and author of the acclaimed book ASK, he’s reshaping how leaders, educators, and organizations uncover the hidden insights that drive real progress.
From classrooms to boardrooms, Jeff’s message is clear: the questions we ask determine the results we get.
Who Is Jeff Wetzler?
Jeff Wetzler is a human potential and learning expert, TEDx and keynote speaker, and author of ASK: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You (Hachette).
With over 25 years of experience bridging business and education, Jeff has advised Fortune 500 leaders, school systems, and social impact organizations on how to unlock breakthroughs in communication and learning.
He is the Co-Founder, Board Member, and Head of Transcend Labs (Transcend Education); an organization reimagining the future of learning. Previously, Jeff served as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, where he led efforts to strengthen leadership development across a national network of educators.
Advisory & Leadership Roles:
Harvard Business Review Advisory Council
NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose & Flourishing
Aspen Global Leadership Network
Edmund Hillary Fellow
Education:
B.S. in Psychology, Brown University
M.A. & Ed.D. in Adult Learning & Leadership, Columbia University / Teachers College
From Curiosity to Connection
Jeff’s journey began in the world of education reform, but it evolved into a broader mission: to help leaders replace assumptions with curiosity.
While leading teams at Teach For America, he noticed a consistent gap, leaders often couldn’t access what their people really thought. Fear, hierarchy, and pressure blocked open feedback.
That insight became his lifelong question:
“What hidden wisdom are we missing because people aren’t telling us what they truly think?”
This question sparked The ASK Approach™, a practical, research-backed framework that teaches leaders how to make it safe for others to share the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Mission: Learning that Unlocks Human Potential
Jeff’s mission is simple but profound: “To make learning and asking better questions a daily leadership practice, not a rare event.”
Through The ASK Approach, Jeff equips leaders to create what he calls “Ask-First Feedback Cultures”; environments where curiosity replaces defensiveness, and resistance becomes data.
The ASK Approach™ Framework:
Choose Curiosity: Treat curiosity as a deliberate choice.
Make It Safe: Build psychological safety for honest dialogue.
Pose Quality Questions: Ask to understand, not to judge.
Listen to Learn: Hear both words and emotions.
Reflect & Reconnect: Close the loop with transparency.
This simple yet powerful cycle helps leaders transform everyday interactions into opportunities for insight, trust, and growth.
Themes & Message Pillars
Curiosity as a Leadership Skill
Curiosity isn’t a personality trait; it’s a capability. Leaders can train it like a muscle to surface insights that drive better decisions.
Psychological Safety in Real Time
Through The Safety Cycle, Jeff teaches three actionable moves "Create Connection, Open Up, Radiate Resilience" to make others feel safe enough to speak truthfully.
Turning Resistance into Data
Instead of seeing resistance as defiance, Jeff reframes it as valuable information. What people push back against often points to what they most care about.
Feedback as a Two-Way Exchange
Jeff’s “Ask-First Feedback Culture” model encourages leaders to seek feedback before giving it; a shift that makes teams more honest and engaged.
Learning as System Design
At Transcend Education, Jeff applies learning science to design entire learning environments that accelerate growth across business and education.
LinkedIn Content Strategy: Curiosity in Practice
On LinkedIn, Jeff Wetzler has built a thought leadership presence centered on evidence, empathy, and practicality. His posts don’t preach; they teach. Each piece is crafted to help leaders try something new the next day; whether it’s how to ask a better question or how to handle silence in a tense feedback conversation.
Strategy Highlights:
Research + Storytelling: Blends leadership science with relatable stories from coaching, classrooms, and corporate life.
Practical Frameworks: Shares visual models like The Ask Approach and The Safety Cycle to make ideas actionable.
Reflection Prompts: Ends posts with open-ended questions inviting readers to experiment.
Authenticity: Often shares moments of uncertainty or resistance in his own leadership journey.
Consistency: Posts regularly on leadership, feedback culture, and the power of curiosity to connect.
Top LinkedIn Posts (2025 Highlights):
Tone & Style
Grounded and evidence-informed: Always backed by psychology and learning science.
Human and humble: Focuses on shared challenges rather than personal triumphs.
Action-oriented: Every insight ends with a takeaway leaders can apply immediately.
Selected Talks
Why Jeff Wetzler Matters
Jeff Wetzler represents a new generation of leadership thinkers; bridging learning science, organizational psychology, and everyday leadership practice. His work reminds us that progress doesn’t begin with an answer; it begins with a question well-asked.
By teaching leaders how to listen for what’s unsaid, Jeff is helping organizations move beyond compliance toward genuine connection and collective intelligence.
“The smartest person in the room isn’t the one with the best answers; it’s the one who knows how to ask better questions.” - Jeff Wetzler
Profile Summary
Info | Detail |
Name | Jeff Wetzler |
Title | Co-Founder & Head of Transcend Labs (Transcend Education); Author of ASK |
Focus | Leadership, Learning Design, Psychological Safety, Feedback Culture |
Experience | 25+ years across business and education; former Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America |
Key Frameworks | The Ask Approach™, The Safety Cycle, Ask-First Feedback Culture |
Advisory Roles | HBR Advisory Council; NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose & Flourishing; Aspen Global Leadership Network |
Education | B.S. (Psychology), Brown University; M.A. & Ed.D. (Adult Learning & Leadership), Columbia University |
Platform Reach | Engaged leadership community; 30–130 reactions per post; active dialogue among L&D professionals |
Publications | ASK (Hachette); Articles in Harvard Business Review & Psychology Today |
Website |
Jeff Wetzler LinkedIn Profile:
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