ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Writing this book has been an important part of my life journey, which began with the values I learned from my parents, Harry and Patricia Kraemer, who taught all their children how to live life by being an example for others. From my four siblings, Steve, Paul, Marilyn, and Tommy, I learned the importance of an open, loving family.

My journey has been deeply enriched by my wife, Julie, who for more than thirty years has kept me centered on who I am, what I stand for, and the values I hold. Whenever I get off track, I can count on Julie to lovingly guide me back to what matters most.

My five children—Suzie, Andrew, Shannon, Diane, and Daniel—are a constant source of joy, fun, challenge, and adventure.

I thank my extended Kraemer and Jansen family for their constant love and friendship, as well as my dear friends who have shared the ups and downs, the good times and difficult times, including Gary Gorman, Jeff Royer, Steve Meyer, Mike Tucker, Neville Jeharajah, Carlos Del Salto, Art Mollenhauer, Karen May, Al Meyer, Gary Pines, Frank Baird, Kathy Straus, and Jim Deichen.

This book would not have been possible without the enthusiasm of the students I am privileged to teach at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and especially the amazing persistence of Samir Gokhale, who taped all of my values-based leadership lectures in 2008 and transcribed them in order to convince me that I “must write this book, no matter what!” Samir's initiative was the jump-start that I needed. I also want to acknowledge several former students and colleagues, including Dev Patel from McKinsey and Raul Trillo from Baxter, who insisted that I write this book now, and would not take no for an answer.

I also acknowledge the following people:

At Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management: Dean Emeritus Donald Jacobs and former dean Dipak Jain, for their continuous mentoring and support and for encouraging me to come back to teach at Kellogg; Al Rappaport, my teacher and mentor; Dr. Ed Hughes, who first asked me to be a guest lecturer in his Kellogg leadership class in 2001; Michelle Buck, who was instrumental in helping me prepare to teach my very first leadership class in 2005; Bill White, for encouraging me to write this book; and Wally Scott, for his wise advise, counsel, and support during this entire process.

At Lawrence University: Corry Azzi and the late Jim Dana, who were instrumental in teaching me the importance of a liberal arts education and providing me with a love for economics and mathematics.

At Baxter International: the late William Graham, the former chairman and CEO, who was a tremendous mentor during my twenty-three years at Baxter and taught me that “we are blessed to do well by doing good”; and Vernon Loucks, my predecessor as chairman and CEO, who played an important role in my development at Baxter. I also acknowledge all of my former colleagues at Baxter and its sister organizations, American Hospital Supply, Caremark, and Edwards Laboratory, who truly led with values.

At Madison Dearborn Partners: all of my colleagues, including Tim Sullivan, Nick Alexos, Paul Finnegan, Sam Mencoff, and John Canning, who have provided me with many examples of leadership across our entire investment portfolio.

At Science Application International, Sirona Dental, VWR International, Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, Lawrence University of Wisconsin, NorthShore University HealthSystem, the Conference Board, LEK Consulting, Shields Meneley Partners, and the Archdiocese of Chicago Schools: all of the management teams and board members with whom I am honored to work. Through these organizations, I have been fortunate to be exposed to a variety of excellent values-based leaders.

At my publisher, Jossey-Bass: my editor, Genoveva Llosa, for her commitment to values-based leadership and to this book, as well as Erin Moy, Amy Packard, Mary Garrett, and Michele Jones.

I also thank my agent and friend, Doris Michaels at DSM Agency, for her support and vision, as well as DSM's director of development, Delia Berrigan Fakis.

Thank you to the many colleagues, friends, family, and students who took the time to read one of the many drafts of this book, including Dipak Jain, Kathy Straus, Andrea Redmond, Raul Trillo, Dev Patel, Gail Meneley, Ed Hughes, Wally Scott, Steve and Kathy Kraemer, Carlos Del Salto, Daven Morrison, Mike Zafirovski, Kelly Grier, Debbie Brauer, Leon Schor, Suzie Kraemer, Shannon Kraemer, and Ben and Jeannie Zastawny.

And finally, and most important, a very special thanks to Tricia Crisafulli, my collaborator, counselor, friend, and colleague. Words cannot express my sincere appreciation for her tireless efforts to make sure this book truly represents what values-based leadership is really all about. Without Tricia, this book would not be possible. Thank you, Tricia!