Dr Margaret J. Wheatley
Dr Margaret J. Wheatley
Since 1966, Margaret Wheatley has worked globally in many different roles, as a speaker, teacher, community worker, consultant, advisor, formal leader. From these deep and varied experiences, she has developed the unshakable conviction that leaders must learn how to evoke people's inherent generosity, creativity, and need for community. As this world tears us apart, sane leadership on behalf of the human spirit is the only way forward. She is a best-selling author of nine books, from the classic 'Leadership and the New Science' in 1992 to her newest book (June 2017) 'Who Do We Choose To Be? Facing Reality; Claiming Leadership; Restoring Sanity'.
She is co-founder and President of The Berkana Institute, a non-profit that supports emerging leaders and emerging ideas about how to organise in life-affirming ways. Berkana has worked in many countries, especially in the Global South; its newest work is to provide training and community for leaders from over 20 countries to take on the work of Warriors for the Human Spirit.
She received her doctorate from Harvard University in 1979 in Administration, Planning and Social Policy. She continues to be honoured for her ground-breaking work by many professional associations, universities and organisations. She was inducted into the Leadership Hall of Fame of the International Leadership Association in 2014, and the American Society for Training and Development dubbed her a 'living legend' when they honoured her with their highest award for contributions to workplace development.
“We need leaders who recognise the harm being done to people and planet through the dominant practices that control, ignore, abuse, and oppress the human spirit. We need leaders who put service over self, stand steadfast in crises and failures, and who display unshakable faith that people can be generous, creative, and kind.”
Margaret Wheatley