I have never been one who neatly fit in a box.  Not because I didn’t fit in a box, but because I couldn’t, or more accurately wouldn’t, decide which box.  I was an actor, a synchronized swimmer, and president of the world affairs club in high school. Welcome in all three, but always a little bit outside because I also belonged somewhere else. That wasn’t always easy as a kid, but has been great as an adult.  I’ve been able to lead in organizations in the non-profit sector, the public sector, and the corporate sector around issues from cosmetics to energy efficiency to human services.  It means I can bring the best of one sector to bear in another, and I understand the crazy pervasive things that cross them all.

My commitment to better leadership probably started in a swimming pool years ago. What I learned is that leadership is not just about what you say but also what you do. I’ve been led by and been the overwhelmed frantic executive and the controlling people pleasing diva martyr. It may get stuff done, but it is soul killing for you and those who work with you.  But I have also been led by and am committed to being a leader who leads by example, helps each member of the team excel, and creates extraordinary results in the process.

If you lead from a place of deep mission driven commitment, a place of joy and service, your life is better, your work and your team are more productive and happier, and your impact is deeper. This is true whether you are a small business owner, non-profit executive, C-suite executive or government leader. It is this understanding that drives me to help leaders lead better – in their career and in their personal lives. I left my corner office and created iLead Strategies to share this knowledge broadly, to help leaders create workplaces that work for the people who work there, deliver outstanding results for customers and drive real impact in the world.

HERE is a more traditional look at my career.