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Let the music keep our spirits high
Let the buildings keep our children dry
Let creation reveal its secrets by and by, by and by
When the light that's lost within us reaches the sky
Those are the last lines of Jackson Browne’s prophetic song Before the Deluge (1974), a kind of prayer that’s the final cut on his masterful album Late for the Sky. As leaders in our lives, despite everything we must persist in creating a sense of hope through purposeful action, striving to bring others along with us toward our vision of a better tomorrow. What else can we do? Now that I’m a grandfather (selections from thousands of pictures of grandchildren available upon request) I’m focused more than ever on doing what I can to secure peace, justice, environmental sustainability, and prosperity for future generations. Here’s some of what I’ve been up to this past year (my 70th) in trying to cultivate human potential.
Useful Knowledge for Working Parents
Working parents need more support than ever to help them meet the great leadership challenge of investing humanity’s hope – the next generation – with the capacity to keep our fragile world safe. Fortunately, brilliant work on this topic abounds. Here are podcasts of my SiriusXM Wharton Business Radio Show, Work and Life, with experts sharing such knowledge:
Fair Play, a documentary on Eve Rodsky’s powerful model for working parents, just dropped. Written, produced, and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the movie demonstrates how private lives are public issues and how invisible work, historically done by women, can be made visible. I’m proud to be featured as an expert commentator alongside thought leaders like Melinda Gates, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Rep. Katie Porter, Caitlyn Collins, Darby Saxbe, and Joan Williams. The film is a highly engaging resource for igniting conversation and concrete action toward a fairer world. Justice starts at home with each one of us.
Our Learning Community
Across the generations, alumni and current students in my Total Leadership class in Wharton’s Executive MBA program (now in its 20th year) gathered last month at both our Philadelphia and San Francisco campuses to build connection, share wisdom, and provide inspiration for how to lead a life of significance. The thrill of being in the midst of these deeply enriching exchanges never gets old. Bonds among those who are committed to pursuing intentional, sustainable change through Total Leadership are flourishing internationally too. We now have client services operations in Spain, Italy, and France (with Italian and French translations of Total Leadership in the works).
Total Leadership Online
Seems like everyone I meet in this fractured world is looking for a bit more peace in their lives. Total Leadership teaches concepts and tools designed to improve performance in all parts of life by finding greater harmony among them. In addition to our workshops, keynotes, and consultations, it’s now possible to learn how to use this evidence-based, practical approach through programs available on a variety of online platforms.
Stew in the News
There’s more – including that I’ve joined Elders Climate Action and just completed my third piano course this year at the Berklee School of Music – though it never quite feels like I’m doing enough. Yet the world seems a bit brighter the more I hear about what people are doing to liberate the power of the human spirit for good at work, at home, in the community, and for the private self. We need all of us to do this, don’t we? Please fill me in on what’s occupying you these days and let me know what I can do to help you.
Peace and love from Philadelphia, Stew
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Stew Friedman
Wharton Faculty Profile
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