Bartley J. Madden is currently an independent researcher and a policy advisor for The Heartland Institute. His research focuses on knowledge building and wealth creation as opposite sides of the same coin. His latest book, Value Creation Thinking, focuses on how the creation of long-term value by business firms begins with clarity about the purpose of the firm while emphasizing the overriding importance of a knowledge building culture.

Madden retired as a managing director of Credit Suisse Holt after a career in money management and investment research that included the founding of Callard Madden & Associates. His early research was instrumental in the development of the cash-flow return on investment (CFROI) valuation framework that is used today by money management firms worldwide.

Knowledge building is the topic of his book, Reconstructing Your Worldview: The Four Core Beliefs You Need to Solve Complex Business Problems, in which he discusses a systems mindset to identify and fix the key constraint that degrades overall system performance. His work in public policy has resulted in the Free To Choose Medicine plan, which was developed in journal articles published in Regulation, Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals, Medical Hypotheses, and Engage.