Think Leadership Ideas

Tom Stevens

Tom brings his clients two decades of experience in engaging people to create meaningful change and raise the bar on performance. After developing expertise and gaining credentials in human behavior and counseling, Tom gained practical leadership and management experience serving a dozen years as the chief executive of a family services organization. In 2001, just 10 days before 9/11, Tom launched his own consulting firm, Esquare Leadership, LLC to help like-minded leaders and professionals accelerate their goals.

Applying the principles of collaborative leadership, strategic thinking, and authentic human connection that he advocates in his consulting practice, in 2005 Tom was elected Mayor of Hillsborough, NC. In 2007 he was elected for a second term, running unopposed.

Tom received both a BA degree and an MSW degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Certificate in Organizational Development from UNC-Charlotte. Tom is a charter member of The Society for the Advancement of Consulting (the first from North Carolina!), and is a professional member of the National Speaker's Association.

Tom's clients have included large organizations such as Nortel, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Novozymes, Biogen Idec, NACCO Materials Handling Group (Hyster and Yale), RSM McGladrey, Alcatel, and Duke University Health System; as well as professional practices, trade associations, chambers of commerce, entrepreneurial businesses owners, and enterprising non-profits. As a speaker, Tom has been applauded at top-ranked business schools, professional conferences, association meetings, and corporate retreats.

Tom publishes THINK!, a monthly on-line collection of leadership articles with subscribers on four continents, and his columns have appeared in Women’s Edge and Business Leader magazines.





What Clients Have Said About Tom Stevens...

We have worked with numerous consultants and facilitators, and I consider Tom to be top rate. Tom’s approach always seems to be
on the leading edge.
~ Mark Santry, Director, Strategic Planning, GlaxoSmithKline

Our staff retention has improved from 65% to 95% over the past two years that we have been working with Tom.
~ Shan James, Director, Duke Health & Fitness Center

Tom helped our leaders lead.
~ Carol D. Clayton, PhD., Executive Director,
North Carolina Council of Community Programs

I highly recommend Tom as a coach, a leadership mentor, and change-agent. He’s a guy with boundless energy and a sincere
sense of commitment to everything he does…
Christopher H. Price, CEO and President
LAAMScience, Inc.

Tom has proven himself as a great meeting facilitator and a strong team builder. Tom has a refreshing knack for team building with professionals without being too “touchy feely”.
~ Debbie Fritz, Director of Health Care Standards, GlaxoSmithKine

Tom meets planned objectives and follows through by providing excellent follow-up. Tom’s work with our group helped us perform at a higher level. We removed stumbling blocks and knocked down silos. We moved forward with improved morale, increased effectiveness and higher productivity. We now approach objectives as a team rather than pursuing individual goals.
~ Gary Tharrington, Director, Business and Employee Services,
Novozymes North America

I feel like you have given me a great big lever that triples the effect of my efforts...
~ Chris Potter, President
Southern Media Design and Production, Inc.

Tom has a talent for combining established theory with practical tools and real world experience.
~ Rob Kramer, Director, Training & Development,
The University of North Carolina

The work that Tom did with us two years ago still provides benefits today.
~ Anne M. Faul, Director, Pharmacy Strategy and Analysis, GlaxoSmithKline

Tom provides value - participants learn a great deal in a short amount of time and walk away with lots of good ideas that are immediately applicable in the real world.
~ Danielle Kasper, Vice-President of Small Business,
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce

Tom provided me with better understanding of key leadership concepts, and my new perspective led me to make fundamental changes in managing and developing employees to better serve customers.
~ Steve Wapple, Owner/Founder,
StarQuest International