James Holtje has over 30 years of experience in speechwriting and corporate communications, both in the United States and overseas. His career includes prestigious roles such as speechwriter for the CEOs of IBM and Siemens AG, and he has worked with numerous executives across various industries, including McGraw-Hill Companies. Holtje has been a part of NYU Stern since 2024, where he teaches speechwriting and public speaking, having previously guest lectured in the EMBA Strategic Communication program. He also teaches public relations writing at NYU SPS. In his extensive corporate career, he has led communications initiatives at major firms and coached executives, particularly non-native English speakers, through his consultancy Speak International LLC, founded in 2023. Throughout his career, he has received accolades such as the Outstanding Teaching Award at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and has authored several publications, including works on storytelling for business audiences. Holtje holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and German Literature from New York University and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia. He is fluent in German and converses in French, Italian, and Spanish, residing in New York City with his wife.