Heart First: Lasting Leader Lessons from a Year that Changed Everything

For more than three decades, award-winning leadership and communication expert David Grossman has helped scores of leaders become great leader communicators who drive impressive results for their organizations. Naturally, the global pandemic and mounting racial unrest of 2020 handed leaders one of their biggest challenges yet, with a level of social and economic tumult not seen in more than a century. Despite the upheaval, many leaders rose to the occasion, often by drawing not just from experience and wise counsel, but from being human as they led – what Grossman calls Heart First leadership.

In Heart First, Grossman explores the many aspects of being more authentic in leadership and how that can profoundly inspire a team and move them to achieve remarkable things, especially in times of change or crisis. Heart First also features interviews with CEOs and guest columns from senior leaders inside a variety of organizations, each of whom share extraordinarily candid insights and unique lessons learned from a year that changed everything.

Leaders featured in the book include:

• Tamer Abuaita, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain, SC Johnson
• Paula Angelo, Vice President, Internal and CEO Communications, The Hartford
• Nadeen Ayala, Chief Communications Office, ABM Industries
• Liru Chan, Head of Marketing, Visa Singapore
• Adam Collins, Chief Communications & Corporate Affairs Office, Molson Coors
• Sherri Dublin, Vice President DE&I, Culture, Engagement and Communications, Ingredion
• Lisa Keltner, Senior Director, Inclusion and Diversity, Baxter
• Erin Loverher, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Walgreens
• Ken Meyers, Former CHRO, Hillrom
• Triona Schmelter, Chief Transformation Officer, TreeHouse Foods
• Stephen Smith, Chairmen, President and CEO of Amsted Industries
• Matt Snow, CEO, DHG
• Victor Swint, CEO, Tecomet
• And many others.