“Clarity of purpose and speaking up about what will make the difference in our communities and businesses is critical. Uncommon Candor inspires us to keep giving the gift of straight talk – for ourselves and others.”—MARIO MORINO, author of Leap of Reason and founder, Venture Philanthropy Partners

Senator Cory Booker’s Candor
Recently, I had the true privilege of participating, along with 45 others, in a Zoom call with New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. I was delighted to find that, in addition to the intelligence and exuberance I was expecting,…

The Ride of a Lifetime, by Robert Iger
The Ride of a Lifetime is a blend of autobiography, leadership manual, and historical non-fiction. The book covers Iger’s own career story with a more recent history of the Disney companies and while doing so, delivers a full…

Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell
The second book in the list of summer reading recommended by Bill Gates certainly brought mixed reviews, with several feeling strongly in opposite directions! Cloud Atlas seems to have fostered a love/hate relationship with our group but everyone…

Reflections on The Choice by Dr. Edith Eger
In a very brief summary that will not do this book or its author full justice, The Choice is the autobiography of Dr. Edith Eger, a survivor of the Holocaust death camps who then immigrated to America and…

What Will It Take? Bill Gates’ Summer Reading List 2020
Each summer, I intend to take advantage of the shift in busy-ness and commit myself to completing a summer reading list. Perhaps nudged by reduced (nearly zero) travel, I have decided this is the summer I will not…

Educated, by Tara Westover
Educated, by Tara Westover, is the harrowing true story of her rise from an abusive, unstable, uneducated childhood to a Cambridge and Harvard education, earning a PhD in history. Westover’s writing is powerful in the way that it…

Sawubona, and other takeaways from the ScalingUp Reignite Summit
In lieu of our spring in-person gathering, the ScalingUp Summit was delivered virtually. Although the timeframe was condensed, the content was robust and delivered on its intent to “reignite.” Much of the content focused on the pandemic and…

Notable Quotes in the Era of COVID
In recent years, I’ve established a tradition of sharing highlights, quotes and key take-aways from the Gazelles ScalingUp Summit. The pandemic has impacted this year’s spring summit (originally scheduled for Dallas in May) and so I am stepping…

Profiles in Candor: Brené Brown
“That bugs the crap outta me.” Brené Brown, in a March 29, 2020 interview with Bill Whitaker for CBS 60 Minutes, declares it really bothers her that her books are grouped into the self-help genre. Brown is a…