Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Liedtka received a B.A. in accounting from Boston University in 1976, an M.B.A from Harvard Business School and a D.B.A. in management policy from Boston University in 1988.
She taught previously at Simmons College and at Rutgers University, and is United Technologies Chaired Professor of Innovation and Design Thinking at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia.