If you want to learn the secrets of being a great leader, ask Jill Geisler. As head of Poynter’s leadership and management programs, she guides managers–from the novice to the veteran–toward success. In Poynter-based seminars, offsite workshops and within organizations, she brings humor and humanity to her well-informed teaching and coaching.

Jill’s “What Great Bosses Know” columns on Poynter.org offer practical, research-based advice to managers in all professions. Her companion “Great Bosses” podcasts on iTunes U have been downloaded over a million times. Little wonder that, in response to requests, she’s currently developing a “What Great Bosses Know” book.

Jill lives in Bayside (a suburb of Milwaukee), Wis. and commutes to Poynter in St. Petersburg, Fla. She joined Poynter’s small and special faculty in 1998, after a 26-year career in broadcast journalism and several walls full of national and local journalism honors. She brought experience in reporting, producing, anchoring and unique expertise in management.

Jill became one of the country’s first female news director of a major market network affiliate at the age of 27. She built an award-winning newsroom culture at WITI in Milwaukee. Hers was a teaching newsroom, where coaching and collaboration were as important as ethics and enterprise; where fun and families mattered, too.

Jill holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in leadership and liberal studies from Duquesne University. In recognition of her lifetime contributions to journalism, the University of Wisconsin honored her with its “Distinguished Service to Journalism” award, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences inducted her into its prestigious Silver Circle.

She is the author of the book, “News Leadership–at the Head of the Class,” published by the Radio Television Digital News Association and countless articles on leadership and management. She has conducted specialized training and coaching programs for scores of organizations in the U.S. and abroad and is in demand as a speaker on leadership, ethics, change management and the role of women in leadership.

She is married to her best friend Neil Jaehnert. Their young adult sons Noah and MacNeil will tell you their mom has always been pretty bossy, but they love her anyway.