ENDORSEMENTS
“This book is a celebration. It's also a handbook for a revolution in leadership, relationship and creativity. It celebrates and gives guidance for a future that is happening now and is accelerating and touching, thank God, every part of life around the world. Debbe Kennedy has worked and lead at the heart of this revolution of turning the 'problem' of differences between people into the gold of creativity and innovation for organizations and the planet. She guides you with fascinating stories, poems, art, visuals, solid approaches and heuristics, and resources that will be relevant for years to come. She'll amaze you by the breadth of examples from a wide variety of walks of life, types of organizations and all corners of the globe. You'll experience in almost a visceral way the ultimate creative act of leading people with all their differences, quirks, needs, and journeys to breakthroughs in relationship, innovation and fulfillment. You'll see how technology, much of it done by Debbe in her Global Dialogue Center and working with her many clients, is changing the game of communicating, solving problems and creating opportunities. Finally, and most importantly in my mind, this is a beautiful book."

—Michael Ray,
Professor Emeritus, Stanford University Graduate School of Business,
John G. McCoy-Banc One Professor of Creativity and 
Innovation and of Marketing, Emeritus
author of Creativity in Business and The Highest Goal

"The dangers of ‘groupthink’ are painfully apparent across our world. That’s why diversity, broadly understood, is so essential to innovation and progress – as Debbe Kennedy reminds us in this pragmatic and wise guide for leaders."

⎯Mike Wing, Vice President, Strategic Communications, IBM


“Rarely has there been a more relevant, more needed guidebook for leaders of the future than Putting Our Differences to Work. Debbe Kennedy has illuminated diversity, innovation, and leadership in a way that will help leaders across the sectors to redefine the future in our times of massive change.”

⎯Frances Hesselbein, Chairman and Founding President Leader to Leader Institute; Former CEO, Girl Scouts of America

"The power of Debbe Kennedy's storytelling helps us all see our own accomplishments in a new light. At the same time, the stories encourage us to take our leadership to a new level. The six steps she offers provide a roadmap to leaders and organizations on how to effectively put differences to work."

⎯Emily J. Duncan former Vice President, Culture and Diversity, Hewlett Packard Emily Duncan Consulting

"Personal, reflective, insightful and inspirational. Full of great ideas and a very powerful story that shows how we need to redefine leadership and diversity in order to help make the world a better place. Needs to be widely read – urgently!"

⎯Dr. Bruce Lloyd, Emeritus Professor of Strategic Management, London South Bank University

“Leaders must find new sources of growth more than ever today. After questioning what leadership means while reading Putting Our Differences to Work, I found myself focused on one thing: I, the leader, must first harness our people’s rich and diverse experiences, cultures and perspectives to attract growth.” Debbe Kennedy compels us to see the source of unimagined growth that is locked within the people in our organization. Unlock, innovate and win… together.”

⎯Lane A. Michel, Executive Vice President, Quaero Corporation

"We know that to create a sustainable, peaceful, and socially just world, we must change our attitudes toward relationships and the ways we conduct business. Debbe Kennedy's Putting Our Differences to Work spells this out eloquently. It blazes a trail down the path to this new paradigm, offering us guidelines, solutions, and hope. A book for this amazing time of challenges and opportunities!"

⎯John Perkin, author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and The Secret History of the American Empire

"Debbe Kennedy has given us multiple gifts -- first, the gift of her deep experience with diversity work, and second, her creative gifts of presenting these ideas in a way that makes them intriguing and compelling. We have a great need for her work, because until we learn to work together in all our awesome, disturbing, and intriguing diversity, we will not be able to create organizations that can dance through these turbulent days. Thank you Debbe!"

⎯Margaret J. Wheatley, author of Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time and Leadership and the New Science

"Very impressive! Wonderful tools for individuals, teams and organizations. Really like the models and processes. Kennedy has a gift for getting to the heart of things and communicating insights in simple, yet powerful, ways. She has also been able to personalize the tools through stories, and through the meaningful quotations. So many tools are presented as dehumanized abstractions, but Debbe Kennedy's have color and flavor."

⎯Terence Brake, Vice President, TMA-US/London/France and author of The Global Leader

"I took a tour of Debbe Kennedy's new work one evening, and was immediately (the next day) able to utilize her tools with a client. And, I was a hero! Her package is superb and moves (even the most sophisticated) into deep dialogue. Debbe Kennedy has pulled together the best of the best. Her exercises, ideas, stories, and assessments will add significantly to any effort. She provides both insight and action for any practioner at any size company with the topic of diversity on their plate! A perfect set of interventions for the beginner or the skilled professional."

⎯Beverly Kaye, President, Career Systems International, Inc., Co-Author of Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay

"I half expected the book to be brilliant but definitely not phenomenal, what an amazing contribution to the debate on innovation and where it comes from… simple and at the same time impossible to achieve.  I read the foreword, preface and introduction last night and I have to tell you that I am exhilarated and tingling with excitement by your concept of Putting our Differences to Work… I am convinced you have discovered a gold mine… what a powerful, profound and compelling argument for diversity!"

-- Wendy Luhabe, Chancellor, University of Johannessburg, South Africa