Dr. Richard Strozzi-Heckler is a pioneering leader in embodied leadership, somatic psychology, and what is today known as Somatic Coaching. He is the founder of the Strozzi Institute (est. 1985), where he developed the groundbreaking methodology “Strozzi Somatics,” integrating body-awareness, movement, breathwork, martial-art principle (from his deep background in Aikido), mindfulness, and psychological insight into a holistic system for personal and organizational transformation.

With a Ph.D. in Psychology and a seventh-degree black belt (Shihan) in Aikido, Richard has spent over five decades teaching, coaching, and facilitating transformation across contexts — from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofit organizations, from military and government agencies to social-justice groups, entrepreneurs, and individuals seeking deeper embodiment and leadership through presence.

As the author of several influential books — including The Leadership Dojo, The Anatomy of Change, and The Art of Somatic Coaching — he has helped articulate a philosophy of embodied learning: the idea that true transformation happens when mind, body, emotions, and action integrate.

Richard’s work is built on the belief that leadership is not just a set of cognitive skills, but a way of being — a state of grounded presence, clarity, and compassionate action rooted in the body. Through the Strozzi Institute, he continues to train somatic coaches, lead embodied-leadership trainings, and support individuals and organizations in cultivating sustainable transformation that honors dignity, interdependence, and purposeful action.

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