LinkedIn Voices: Jeff Wetzler

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:

1. Choose Curiosity: Treat curiosity as a deliberate choice.

2. Make It Safe: Build psychological safety for honest dialogue.

3. Pose Quality Questions: Ask to understand, not to judge.

4. Listen to Learn: Hear both words and emotions.

5. 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

1. 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.

     
     

2. 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.

     
     

3. 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.

     
     

4. 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.

     
     

5. 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

Jeff Wetzler On LinkedIn

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):

www.linkedin.com

How to build an Ask-First Feedback Culture | Jeff Wetzler posted on the topic | LinkedIn

Many leaders tell me: “Our people are kind, collaborative, and genuinely care about one another. But… we’re not very good at giving direct feedback.” They know kindness fuels connection—but also that too much 'niceness' can slip into avoidance. Without candor, people don’t improve as quickly as they could. Frustration festers. Performance stalls. So the instinct is to double down on helping people give feedback more skillfully or courageously. But here’s the surprising truth: that’s often the hardest possible place to start. The real bottleneck usually isn’t courage—it’s uncertainty. Even well-intentioned colleagues hesitate if they’re not sure their input will be welcome. That’s why the most effective leaders don’t just ask people to “speak up.” They make it safe and easy to do so—by inviting input early, clearly, and often. That’s what I call an Ask-First Feedback Culture: a workplace where people routinely seek out input, not just wait to give or receive it. When asking becomes the norm, learning accelerates, relationships deepen, and performance rises. I explore how to build this kind of culture—plus four practical strategies—in my latest Harvard Business Review article: https://ift.tt/oulONG0 💬 What’s one way you make it easier for people to share what you most need to hear? #AskApproach #AskFirstFeedback #Leadership #FeedbackCulture #PsychologicalSafety #Curiosity #LearningCulture #BetterQuestions #HBR | 29 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

This weekend while spending time with some friends in the Berkshires, I happened upon this sign. Oddly precise, I thought. Or maybe, an omen? What would lead someone to choose this speed limit?… | Jeff Wetzler | 30 comments

This weekend while spending time with some friends in the Berkshires, I happened upon this sign. Oddly precise, I thought. Or maybe, an omen? What would lead someone to choose this speed limit? No matter the answer (which I will likely never find out), I was grateful for this sign which sparked my curiosity. So often, we pass over more subtle cues that could trigger our curiosity. For me it was a reminder to notice these, watch our speed, and take the time to wonder. What have you seen that sparked your curiosity lately? (share below) | 30 comments on LinkedIn

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How to create a safe space for honest conversations | Jeff Wetzler posted on the topic | LinkedIn

By now, leaders know psychological safety matters. Decades of research from Amy Edmondson and others show that when people feel safe to speak up, they report mistakes faster, innovate more often, and learn more deeply together. Yet for all we know about its importance, many leaders still struggle to increase safety in the moments it matters most—during the real, high-stakes conversations where honesty feels risky. That’s where The Safety Cycle comes in—a way to raise safety in real time through three simple moves: 🔹 Create Connection — choose a time, space, and place that works best for them. 🔹 Open Up — so they understand your intent and don’t have to guess your agenda. 🔹 Radiate Resilience — so they trust you can handle the truth. These small shifts lower the cost of candor and raise the reward—turning tough conversations into opportunities for learning and progress. I unpack each step in my latest Psychology Today article: 👉 https://buff.ly/wMappLc What’s one way you help people feel safer to say what really needs to be said? #AskApproach #SafetyCycle #MakeItSafe #Leadership #PsychologicalSafety #HiddenInsights #TeamCulture #BetterConversations

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How to build a feedback culture with leadership that asks first | Jeff Wetzler posted on the topic | LinkedIn

When feedback stalls, we often assume the problem is courage. We tell people to “be brave,” “be direct,” “just speak up.” But more often, the real barrier isn’t bravery—it’s uncertainty. Uncertainty about how their feedback will land. Uncertainty about whether it’s truly welcome. Uncertainty about whether honesty will be rewarded or regretted. The only reliable way to reduce that uncertainty is through leadership that asks first—and means it. That starts with leaders who invite feedback clearly, receive it well, and show they can handle the truth. I unpack this idea—and how to build an Ask-First Feedback Culture around it—in my latest Harvard Business Review article: https://lnkd.in/egc4BXTV How do you invite feedback in a way that makes people actually want to give it? #AskApproach #AskFirst #Leadership #FeedbackCulture #PsychologicalSafety #Curiosity #LearningCulture #BetterQuestions #HBR | 18 comments on LinkedIn

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

How to Learn Something from Anyone... (and Why To Try) | Jeff Wetzler | TEDxBerkshires

Building The Schools of The Future | Jeff Wetzler | Talks at Google

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	www.JeffWetzler.com

Jeff Wetzler LinkedIn Profile:

www.linkedin.com

Jeff Wetzler - Transcend Education | LinkedIn

For over 25 years, I’ve been driven by one mission: to unlock breakthroughs in learning… · Experience: Transcend Education · Education: Brown University · Location: Hastings-On-Hudson · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Jeff Wetzler’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.