The four authors taking a break from writing. Left to right: David Axelrod (Dick and Emily’s son, ski instructor and raft guide extaordinaire), Robert (Jake) Jacobs, Emily Axelrod, Dick Axelrod, Julie Beedon.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Richard H. Axelrod is a founder of, and principal in, The Axelrod Group, Inc.—a consulting firm that pioneered the use of employee-involvement to effect large-scale organizational change. He now brings over twenty-five years of consulting and teaching experience to his work, with clients including Boeing, Coca Cola, and Hewlett Packard. Dick received his masters in business administration from the University of Chicago. Raised in Chicago, he is a lifelong Cubs fan.
Emily M. Axelrod is also a founder of, and principal in, The Axelrod Group, Inc., which she created with her husband. For the past twenty-five years, she has consulted to Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits. With Southern wit and spirit, she helps build more productive, energized, dignified enterprises. Emily has two master’s degrees: one in education from the University of North Carolina and one in social work from Loyola University.
Julie Beedon co-founded VISTA with the aim of “Making a Difference in the World.” She does this by engaging organizations and communities to create a desirable future. Julie brings energy, enthusiasm, and a mathematics degree to her work. She loves theories, concepts, and principles, while enjoying a healthy debate about why they work. Julie’s clients range in size from small Staffordshire villages in the UK to global multinational organizations such as Royal Dutch Shell.
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Robert W. Jacobs is a partner in the change management practice at Mercer Delta Consulting. Jake has a simple philosophy to change: if you think of change work as something special, you’ll never get around to doing it. Change work needs to be part of your daily work. In doing so, you begin living your future now. Jake’s clients embracing this philosophy include Ford, Marriott, and the City of New York. Jake lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Cheryl; children, Alison and Aaron; and four-legged friends, Chester, Chloe, Madison, and well-trained buddy Theo.