[3] He has written over 30 books with his colleagues which have shaped the human resources profession, defined organizations as capabilities, and shown the impact of leadership on customers and investors.

Dave Ulrich has been ranked the #1 Management Educator & Guru by BusinessWeek,[5] selected by Fast Company as one of the 10 most innovative and creative leaders,[6] is one of 21 people in the Thinker's Fifty Hall of Fame, and named the most influential thinker in HR of the decade by HR magazine.

His father worked as a forester building campgrounds, then transferred in order to direct social programs for Job Corps.

[10][non-primary source needed] In the leadership area, Ulrich has co-authored several works with organizational development consultant Norm Smallwood.

[15][non-primary source needed] Their current work attempts to look at leadership through the eyes and expectations of investors.