The Eleven Primal Spaces: Awakening Next-Level Leadership by Reconnecting to What Makes Us Human (Hardcover)

“Timeless and deeply relevant.” 
—Dr. Marshall Goldsmith

“The Eleven Primal Spacesto unlock lasting success, trust, and impact.”
—Ram Charan

“An important guide for anyone seeking to make a meaningful difference in a rapidly changing world.”
—Tal Ben-Shahar

Stand Upright. Walk Boldly. Awaken the Eleven Primal Spaces.

We stand at the edge of the next great expansion. The foundations that once shaped us are crumbling and fading away. In their place rises a new frontier where new methods, strategies, and competencies are being driven by rapid innovation and constant disruption.

To successfully navigate this accelerating transformation, today’s leaders must turn to the most enduring tools we’ve ever known: the fundamentally human “spaces” that enabled our evolutionary ascent in the first place.

The Eleven Primal Spaces explores the individual, communal, and transcendent spaces that have shaped us from the very beginning. Blending anthropology, storytelling, breakthrough leadership theory, and opportunities for personal reflection and discovery, this book empowers leaders to breathe new life into these primal spaces—reigniting connection, inspiration, and energy in work and life.

Whether you’re a CEO, educator, community builder, or anyone striving to lead with lasting impact, The Eleven Primal Spaces offers a compelling synthesis of ancient wisdom and contemporary relevance, merging evolutionary insights with actionable strategies for success in today’s complex and rapidly changing world.

Marc D. Kirshbaum is a master reconstructionist, advisor, and CEO who has guided global innovators, early-stage disruptors, and mission-driven organizations through pivotal moments of growth and transformation for more than twenty-five years. His work challenges and inspires leaders to awaken the primal spaces that have shaped humanity—rekindling awareness, meaningful connection, and communities rooted in respect, trust, and empathy.

He’s led and advised both early-stage ventures and mature companies through growth, turnaround, and reorganization—including scaling teams, raising capital, and driving successful exits. Today, he collaborates with executives and teams, focusing on developing leaders who hold space for their vision to materialize while standing upright and walking boldly.

Beyond business, he has served as a leader in his community and a statewide policy advocate. He is also deeply committed as a catalyst and mobilizer for multiple Jewish causes, engaging in national efforts that frequently bring him to Washington, DC.

He received his JD from The University of Chicago School of Law and his undergraduate degree in economics and political science from the University of Southern California. He and his wife live in Southern California, having proudly raised two joyful and purposeful daughters.