Leadership matters- Tribute to a Change Champion and Outcomes Based Pioneer

To experience being mentored and shaped by great leaders early in one's career is a privilege. Many believe, if done so very early in one's journey, these are qualities and values that can often get imprinted on one, as that is how one first experiences the world. John Ruggie was one such leader that had this ability to inspire but also drive one towards action and impact. The world is a better place because of his vision and commitment to relentlessly bring out the best in humanity, combining pragmatism and a quest for what we all have in common as a global community, versus what keeps us apart. In 2003, having just graduated from the Harvard Business School (HBS), I had also served as Co-President of HBS's pioneering Social Enterprise Club, a wonderful honor to have experienced during those formative years. The DNA of Social Enterprise was to focus on the role of the private, public and not-for-profit sectors to come together for lasting solutions making a positive impact. Many of the ideas on the role of business and the outcomes mindset have its DNA in the pioneering thinking that emerged at this time- from the themes found in "shared value", to the stakeholder mindset we now take for granted. That year, post graduation from HBS, I was scheduled to return to McKinsey, but the opportunity to join John Ruggie across the river from the Harvard Business School, at the Center for Business and Government, at the Harvard Kennedy School, emerged due to my role within the Social Enterprise ecosystem. John led the Center of Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School as Director, post his time as Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations. When we met in the summer of 2003, he offered me this wonderful opportunity to be a part of his team tackling some of the major cross sectoral issues of the time. I delayed my return to McKinsey post graduation to fulfill a commitment to be a part of the Kennedy School community but also to be with John and the community he brought together. I recall weekly and daily meetings with John- the twinkle in his eye, his wonderful sense of humor, his warmth, brilliance, and extreme commitment and resolve to tackle head on the challenges faced across sectors and society. He made all feel their contributions and hard work was valued and that the great challenges being raised across sectors could be addressed step by step in a pragmatic approach. John made the concept of 'best possible' a reality for all present, to craft guidelines and action-based principles that brought all together, even when divergent views were present. John's legacy, from being pivotal in authoring the UN Guiding principles to work on climate change, was rooted in an ability to bring people together when sometimes even sitting in the room was a challenge for stakeholders.  He was one of the architects of the United Nations Global Compact as well as of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the precursor to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I recall the wonderful dinner the end of that summer at John's home in Boston that he hosted. That dinner also had him share some of the most fun and engaging stories. John used stories to bring people together, to make all feel welcome and imprint memories on those around him. Key elements of my work for the past two decades, to make performance measurement and outcomes-based thinking a toolkit that all can draw upon, has been influenced by this valuable experience. Two years ago I found myself back at Harvard, this time as a faculty member and I was honored to conceptualize, convene and co-host Harvard Business School's first short intensive program on agility titled: From Agile to OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). This program brought together some of the world's leading minds in the high impact agile and OKR change and results delivery space aimed at supporting step change performance for matrixed global business enterprises and the Fortune 500. McKinsey and BCG’s global senior Partners and thought leaders in the field of agility flew in specifically from across both the US and Europe to join us in Boston, as did WorkBoard, a pioneering leader in the Enterprise OKR space. Each of these leading groups remain key co-creators in unpacking the latest thinking on best practices to support enterprises move faster, increase value velocity and drive on the ground delivery of 'best possible'. John’s lessons and example as a role model is in the DNA of all of this i.e. how we choose to lead, the decision and delivery mechanisms we as leaders role-model and make visible via practice every day to empower those around us, is pivotal to the goal of unlocking the full potential of each and every person, team and enterprise. I vividly recall the ability John had of despite being a leader of such gravitas, accomplishment and gobal standing, to nevertheless make everyone feel valued as having a full seat at the table- that everyone's contributions and voices mattered. That is the DNA of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and the mindset of unlocking 'best possible'. John lived these values- creating frameworks, operating rhythms and mechanisms of global, regional and local trust, so information was shared and transparency and an outcomes base mindset celebrated. This week I wrap-up my graduate class on linking accounting, business performance, strategic execution, effective dashboards and outcomes-based thinking to OKRs and the role of mindset and trust. This is with an incredible cohort of over 100 students from across the globe at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, where I am honored to serve as the Distinguished Professor of Practice in Global Accounting, Risk & Agility, and also now serve as the newly appointed Director of the Thunderbird Case Series. Tomorrow is the capstone accounting class of the semester where for the past several intense weeks I shared with my beloved students that each has a cherished and valued seat at the table. Tomorrow’s capstone will be dedicated to what John Ruggie inculcated in me and all those around him- the vision that 'best possible' is within reach of all and to not stop the drive to see every day, week, month, and year as an opportunity to make an impact…