University of North Texas adds Jim Carlough leadership book to business curriculum

The University of North Texas has formally adopted Jim Carlough’s The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership as a recommended resource in its Sales and Marketing Leadership curriculum. The move gives the Amazon bestselling, award-winning book a role in classroom instruction and marks a notable academic milestone for the first-time author.

Why it matters: - The University of North Texas adoption puts Jim Carlough’s leadership framework in front of business students inside a formal curriculum. - The agreement gives the book academic reach beyond a single classroom and could shape how future managers think about leadership identity, not just leadership skills. - UNT’s size adds weight to the selection, making the curriculum placement a notable validation for a first-time author.

What happened: - UNT signed a Permission and Release Agreement with Jim Carlough authorizing use of The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success in the College of Business Sales and Marketing Leadership curriculum. - Four UNT faculty members signed the agreement, including an Adjunct Professor, Principal Lecturer, Lecturer and Clinical Associate Professor. - The book is now a recommended resource for the Sales and Marketing Leadership program.

The details: - The agreement grants non-exclusive educational rights to assign, distribute and incorporate the book into coursework, lectures, presentations and UNT’s learning management system. - Carlough’s framework centers on six pillars of effective leadership: Integrity, Focus, Compassion, Stability, Empathy and Humor. - The book argues that leadership failure is an identity problem, which Carlough calls the Leadership Identity Gap, rather than mainly a skills problem. - Carlough is an author, keynote speaker and executive coach known as “The Leadership Identity Architect.” - Carlough formerly served as Chief Sales Officer of mPulse and says he has more than 30 years of C-suite experience. - Carlough was named IAOTP Chief Sales Officer of the Year for 2025. - Carlough is a Forbes Business Council contributor and has appeared on more than 70 podcasts. - Carlough’s keynote, From Manager to Leader: Closing the Identity Gap, is available for conferences, corporate events and academic institutions. - Timothy Smith, an Adjunct Professor at UNT, said the book offers students a values-based framework for understanding successful leadership and setting career goals with managers.

Between the lines: - UNT’s adoption suggests business schools are looking for material that connects theory with workplace expectations. - The curriculum placement also reinforces a broader market for leadership content built around values, identity and self-concept rather than only tactics and management tools. - For Carlough, the academic use of the book creates a credibility boost that can help his speaking and coaching business.

What's next: - Carlough’s keynote and leadership framework are positioned for more conferences, corporate events and academic bookings. - UNT students in the Sales and Marketing Leadership program will now encounter the book as part of their coursework and related class activities. - More information is available at Jim Carlough’s website.

The bottom line: - UNT’s curriculum adoption turns Carlough’s leadership book into an academic teaching tool, not just a commercial title.