October 9-11 we launch the national network to eliminate the stigma around mental health and substance use disorders, Stop Stigma Together. It’s an amazing Grand Challenge that I am privileged to lead. We have over 100 organizations participating at this event as well as thought leaders across the country, researchers, and activists. I have been […]
What would it be if you could sum up leadership in one word? Inspiration? Dedication? Execution? Strategy? Did you consider balance? In the video above, I share what I learned about leadership and balance while working with NASA. I spent many years teaching leadership training at the Goddard Space Flight Center. During that time, I
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My wife, Laura Baron, is a music video social artist. In 2013 she produced A Little Note, using the soundtrack to the song that won Best Song across all categories by the Washington Area Music Awards. This video was made possible by the generous support of In Honor of Her, and is dedicated to helping
Ron Heifetz, a Leadership lecturer at Harvard University, taught me that one of the best ways to develop leaders is to throw them into the deep end of the pool and not necessarily throw them a life preserver. You can provide coaching, guidance, and provocative questions, but you must let them figure out the solutions
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I have been using this platform to discuss Grand Challenges– big, bold initiatives that take on some of society’s wickedest problems. A Grand Challenge is NOT a project. While there are similarities, this issue of Visionary Talk focuses on the differences between a Grand Challenge and other projects and initiatives. Watch the video above or
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In my 30s, I trained in search and rescue and got my Wilderness First Responder certificate, the industry standard for professional guides and trip leaders. I was motivated to do this because I loved the outdoor backcountry and had already gotten seriously lost once in Superior National Forest, Minnesota. That scared me enough that I
When I went on this last camping trip, I rented a 2014 Jeep Wrangler because the last time I took my car up these mountain roads, I popped off a lower door panel. I had no idea how much fun I would have driving the Jeep. On the highways, being up higher than most and
Launching a successful Grand Challenge requires managing several critical elements. In past issues, I’ve covered: the Grand Challenge Upward Spiral, Creating a Social Movement, Ecosystem Activation, and more. Today, I want to discuss The Grand Challenge Systems Model for Change. I created this model by heavily drawing on the work of Kenneth McLeroy. In
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In the picture above my canine companion, Kaya, is drinking from a mountain stream on our recent trip up into the Adirondacks of upstate New York. I took a jeep up into the hinterlands, getting as far as Lyon Mountain, just 22 miles south of the Canadian border. I rented a 2014 Jeep Wrangler (4×4,
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Grand Challenges address socially intractable problems. Wicked problems. Problems that have so many moving parts, it’s difficult to wrap your mind around them – like climate change. I’ve had the opportunity to help conceive, design, and execute, five grand challenges. I’ve spent the last few weeks discussing the varied processes, tools, and models key to
Strategic Foresight in 5 Steps Read More »
