Acknowledgments

This project could not have succeeded without the help of many people. I’d like to begin by thanking Father Pat O’Leary, S.J. for helping me discern that my insights on humility needed to be shared more widely and that writing this book was on my path. Our many conversations added to my vision and voice.

It is with tremendous gratitude and deep regard that I acknowledge the twelve CEOs interviewed for this book: Orlando Ashford, Howard Behar, Phyllis Campbell, Roger Ferguson, Sally Jewell, Dick Johnson, Alan Mulally, Jeff Musser, John Noseworthy, Jim Sinegal, Brad Tilden, and Jim Weber. All of you, including those of you who did not know me, were gracious with your time. I appreciate your candor in answering my questions, and I feel honored that you gave me freedom in how I used your material. Your insights combined with the book’s narrative create a much richer story.

I owe profound thanks to Alan Mulally, who not only agreed to an interview and wrote the foreword but provided the chapter on the Working Together Management System. I cannot envision this book without illustrating your system to show how leader humility can work in practice. I am equally grateful for your support and collaboration over the years. Our work together provided significant inspiration for this project.

Sharon Parks and Geoff Bellman deserve sincere thanks for referring me to Berrett-Koehler. Our conversations helped me find the perfect publisher for this work.

And my very deep appreciation goes to Steve Piersanti, founder and former CEO of BK, for believing in this project at an early stage. As my editor, you somehow knew the right questions to ask me—at the right time—always modeling leader humility. You challenged me to craft my ideas in more compelling ways, resulting in a much better book. I trust you recognize your influence on this work.

Several reviewers were privy to earlier versions of the full manuscript and offered constructive feedback: Cindy Hamra, Lori Homer, Jeff Kulick, Admiral Chuck Larkin (Ret.), Mike McNair, Kerry Radcliffe, Quinetta Roberson, and Lorri Sheffer. I appreciate your observations, which, in aggregate, helped me improve my work. I am also grateful to family, friends, colleagues, clients, and students. Thank you so much for your ideas, encouragement, and support over the longer haul. And I hope the book makes you feel your investment was worthwhile.

In trying to acknowledge some, I have no doubt overlooked others and apologize here for any oversight. Let me close by thanking all those at Berrett-Koehler and affiliates who support the publication and dissemination of this book. Your kindness and collaboration mean the world to me.