Author Description

Pandemic-induced isolation has affected all of us and in many ways. For me, it provided the white space needed to write more and reflect on what Charles Dickens famously described as "the best of times and the worst of times." During this period, I have repeatedly returned to the question of why our current leadership models, institutions, and innovation practices seem so inadequate for addressing the needs of a world beset by existential challenges and "wicked" problems.I had considered pouring these ideas into a new book but concluded that writing shorter pieces would fit better into a life increasingly made up of startups, advisory work and a return to piano studies. A preference for sketches if you will rather than full blown oil paintings. This led me to my friend Randall Lane, Chief Content officer at Forbes.com, with whom I had worked at The Daily Beast. The result was my Forbes column, one that allowed me to post my work without editorial oversight, directly from my brain to the reader at large.I've culled these pieces and other sources for this anthology. The first five are foundational. They begin with a discussion of discontinuity and readiness for the "re-emergence." I then describe a radical new set of what I call "metaproficiencies." Those in turn are illustrated by a "six intelligences" framework that is gaining traction because of its ability to help leaders navigate in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. Finally the "new 3R's" piece frames a new leadership agenda - to be able to re-imagine, re-design and re-organize.