Praise for
Heartfelt Leadership

“Discover why heartfelt leadership, at every level and in each person, must begin now to make a positive difference in our world.”

— COLONEL DEBRA M. LEWIS (US ARMY, RETIRED)
Founder of Mentally Tough Women

“Heartfelt Leadership is illuminating. It’s shining a big spotlight on something people are fearful to discuss: Do I love the work I do? Is it with purpose and meaning? Do I love the people with whom I work? Do I care so much about them I’m willing to invest in them? I will tell you, for those of us who are there, it feels good. It really does. It’s purposeful and meaningful.”

—BRITT BERRETT
Program Director of Healthcare Management Naveen Jindal School of Management at the Univerity of Texas at Dallas

“Deb and Dr. Mark take us through the question of why leaders choose to inject love into a business. Is it innate? Or is it a calculated business decision? The stories from the interviews show us how many of these leaders may follow their heart, but they lead with their soul.”

—TIM HINDES
CEO, Stay Metrics

“Society does not advance in a linear way. Rather, it oscillates. Right now, hard edges are all around us. Leadership has taken up once again the bitter skills of using fear to generate allegiance. Separation, loathing, blaming of the other, polarization and hatred abound. But humans ultimately do turn to the light, and we find our better angels. In society and in our workplaces, heartfelt empathy, shared goals, common values and dreams will reassert themselves because over millennia, they always have.

In any corporation or charity, it is possible to use fear in the short-term to propel the team forward. Those five floors of slaves who rowed the freighters across the Mediterranean thousands of years ago, did so under the overseer’s whip. But such propulsion is temporary and begrudging. In a free society, people cannot wait to leave.

Great executives do it differently and better, by exerting servant leadership in any organization, by inspiring those working there to grasp the goals and the vision, and to make them their very own. Shared vision and passion is much more achievable. Enduring success is a team sport.

This is one of the strongest books on leadership I have ever read.”

—PETER SAMUELSON
Producer of 26 films and founder of five charities that have raised over one billion dollars to serve seriously ill children, foster youth and the homeless

“Relief describes my feeling, knowing now that I’m not alone in my questions and career concerns, relief that I can try new things, and relief that a solution is possible. Thanks to Deb Boelkes and Dr. Mark Goulston for showing us how to create an environment of heartfelt trust and a thirst for self-improvement. Love the stories in the book—so interesting how Deb and Dr. Mark share their voices—it’s almost like a dance, flowing back and forth.”

—KAREN FRANKENBERG
Chief Financial Officer, Talley, Inc.

“An intriguing book with real life stories, scenarios, and interactions that feel all too familiar, albeit positive or negative. I’d encourage one’s extended leadership team to read it as a team so the words come to life, become actionable, and yield shared accountability.

On a few occasions while I was a CEO, I was told that I shouldn’t lead from my heart. After reading and considering the words of wisdom in this book, I now recognize that it’s not only acceptable to do so, but with refinement can be a positive leadership trait.

Given that interactions and conversations are the backbone of leadership, helping differentiate it from management, the practical stories and challenges in this book will inspire the reader to be better at both, whether in a personal or professional setting.

With Heartfelt Leadership: How to Capture the Top Spot and Keep on Soaring, Deb and Dr. Mark truly bring decades of research, real life stories, and courageous examples to stir the reader to action. By opening up as a heartfelt leader, those who embrace the ideas in these pages will attract, retain and motivate their team members to achieve more and be loyal.”

—CARYN SIEBERT, JD
Vice President—Carrier Practice, Gallagher Bassett

“The message, the passion, and the commitment Deb and Dr. Mark both have for creating more heartfelt leaders is so appreciated and needed. Thank you for doing the work you both are doing to make the kind of difference that will change our world … coming from our hearts. Now it will become the norm rather than the exception.”

—SUSAN INOUYE
Executive Coach, SSI Executive Coaching Solutions

“There are leaders and there are heartfelt leaders. Yes, there is a difference. The result of being a heartfelt leader genuinely fashions a respect and following from others. People know and respond willingly when you act and speak from the heart, not from your position.

Heartfelt Leadership will give you the tools and knowledge to modify your leadership presence. Go from a person who people follow because they have to, to one they want to follow. Deb and Dr. Mark’s Heartfelt Leadership group on LinkedIn gave me this knowledge, which in turn brought my leadership to the highest level. I will always be thankful for this.”

—DARRELL JANSSEN
Multicultural Engineering Projects Manager