EmPower Us!
Our Journey … Book Reviews
By Ira Kaufman and Velimir Srića
Why is our world broken?
This is the burning challenge that drew us together 5 years ago in Croatia.
Velimir and I began looking at our own experiences and consulting and training in 70 countries. We asked that question for many different angles and noted the fissures in the systems and models from social, economic, political , environmental health and food security perspectives. We realized what was broken was the foundation of these systems- the intention, values and the purpose which drives our actions. Business models and evaluation of impact was not HUMAN CENTERED!
We realized that our values were being “proclaimed,” placed on board room walls or websites, but not being lived and practiced in their businesses or organizations. The GAP in living our values was a major part of what was broken.
EmPower Us! was a transformation journey to conceive and write the book. Now the real work begins… to fuel a more sustainable future. We invite you to join us! www.empowerus.world
EmPower Us! challenges you to see the world as it could be and join us to reinvent it.
We Think Catalytic!
“Call Us The Rising Voices, the dissatisfied, the marginalized, the change-makers.
We Transform the broken world…politics without principles, technology without ethics, society without inclusivity.
We Add Values to power Value.
We Empower collaboration driving sustainability.
We are Catalyzers igniting social impact with Love!
Join the Journey to transformation.”
Professor Philip Kotler, the “Father of Modern Marketing” and mentor for 40 years, has dedicated his efforts to Advancing the Common Good , commented, “There are many how to ‘fix society’ books. This is one of the best I have read!”
EmPower Us! From Crisis to Strategic Harmony is a call for global transformation! It redefines leadership for the 21st century as the Power to collaborate on inclusive solutions to achieve a sustainable future. With 40+ contributors from six continents and across five generations, Empower Us! lays out catalytic models that sustain all of us
The journey begins with living the TEST Values (Trust, Empathy, Sustainability, Transparency). They are the currency for accelerating transformation for all of Us, our organizations, and our world. Meeting the demands of the current world requires replacing leaders who are managing the status quo with Catalyzers, dedicated to ongoing transformation. Catalyzers are committed to a human-centered economy with the humility to engage with all people, and the empathy to respond to their needs. They challenge linear bias, opening themselves to new possibilities they had not anticipated. Finally, they hold themselves and their organization accountable to achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The HOW is Strategic Harmony, a five-step transformative model connecting mind and heart. It begins with personal transformation, which is translated into organizational culture and a business model. It is a roadmap that challenges progressive leaders, entrepreneurs, and Rising Voices to collaborate as Catalyzers to reinvent a sustainable world- driven by universal values, shared purpose, higher ethical compass, digital technologies, and human-centered business practices.
Book Reviews
As a Rising Voice and pioneer in human-centered technology, Navroop Sahdev commented, “Sustainability depends on redefining the role of profit, money, or bottom-line, incorporating core values and purpose to address all stakeholders’ impact. This is central to the message of EmPower Us! and achieving Strategic Harmony.”
There are many “fix society” books. This is one of the best that I have read. My own answers to these multiple crises proposed building better systems of capitalism and democracy, all moved by the spirit of the Common Good. But Kaufman and Srića, went much deeper with their analysis of why societies break down. ”
— Philip Kotler, Father of Modern Marketing, Confronting Capitalism, Democracy in Decline, Advancing the Common Good
“This “can’t-put-it-down” book is a powerful contribution to all the Earth. It shares miraculous solutions inspiring every reader to find their highest life mission — higher than we would dare — to be part of the solution. Do read EmPower Us! now!”
— Susan Davis Moora, Mother Social Investment Industry, Founder, KINS
“This book is an invitation to look at the world with curious kids’ eyes to cooperate and manage social and economic processes differently! It is a call to let love and creativity Empower us to bring Harmony to society! Can the world really become a big orchestra playing beautiful, noble, and human music that turns us all into Catalysts of change? Srića and Kaufman say it is possible. We have to let our soul listen to their New Harmony.”
— Prof. Dr. Ivo Josipović, Ph.D., President of Croatia (2010–2015)
“EmPower Us! challenges the reader to embark on a transformational journey. Instead of accepting the world as is, the authors give us a guide to harnessing our passion to be the change we want to see in the world.”
— Erik Qualman, Futurist, #1 Bestselling Author (Socialnomics)
“EmPower Us! as an intergenerational movement is absolute genius! It breaks down stereotypes across generations…to spark sustainable value ecosystems.”
— Shagorika Heryani, Regional Head of Strategy, Grey Group, AMEA
“The world as we know it is flawed; Empower Us! encourages readers to not be apathetic, but rather excited in making change.”
— Ella Feathers, Student UNC, Chapel Hill, Environmental Activist
“EmPower Us! addresses the root cause of the five global crises, ‘dis-eases’ beginning with the degradation of values and the breach of trust. We are born hardwired to universal values. Before we are EmPower(ed) we have to be InPower(ed). The power of universal values can act as catalytic forces for transformation.”
— J.E. Rash, President, Legacy International, Values-based Leadership
“EmPower Us! focuses on one of the foundational elements to create a trust economy — the ability to reach, engage and listen to global citizens. Hear the rising voices across geographies, generations, gender and global economies.”
— Irfan Verjee, VP Business Value Group, Sprinklr — Europe & Asia
“In today’s world, people talk to themselves rather than engage in genuine conversation…EmPower Us! stimulates a broader dialogue between generations on the critical priorities of humanity, driving it to reinvent itself.”
— Dr. Joseph O. Okpaku, Sr. CEO, Telecom Africa International Co.
“EmPower Us! is a wise guide for teams committed to creating a generative future together — starting now! With a melange of passion, wit and poetic wisdom, the book encourages us to action on a very human level, and its apt analytic protocols are immediately useful. It sees reality through a whole-system lens. And through its eyes the reader leaps well ahead on the transition from the profit-primacy business norm toward a paradigm of inclusive wellbeing.”
— Elsie Maio, CEO, Humanity, Inc. /SoulBranding™ Institute
“A must-read for executives and managers. It provides a comprehensive map of Strategic Transformation, offering excellent insights and practical cases.”
— Dr. Sam Wang, Managing Partner, Kotler Marketing Group China
“This book provides a leadership model that fosters true values, nourishes a culture of innovation and relies on diversity and inclusion; that is the key for a sustainable value creation in our world that is continuously being reshaped by technology development.”
— Gordana Kovačević, CEO, Ericsson Nikola Tesla
“EmPower Us! is a template for sharing the authors’ values-based framework for holistic societal growth. It gives readers the perspective needed to interact with the status quo and facilitate sustainable changes.”
— Emad Davis, Full Stack Software Engineer, FOSTM Agency
“This book helped me recognize my power within the Gen Z community. I was enthralled by the message of Strategic Harmony in addressing our social inequities by empowering values, including unheard voices and redefining leaders as catalyzers.”
— Malak Dridi, Writer, Daily Tar Heel, UNC, Chapel Hill
“It guides each individual to play a significant role in achieving sustainability. It is a practical, easy to follow roadmap revealing the mindset required to design impactful solutions through digital technologies and sustainable business models.”
— Din Catic, Corporate Sustainability Strategist, Carbon Trust, UK
“EmPower Us! proposes a new paradigm and manifesto. Time has come to empower us through a non predatory approach to limited resources . Love, harmony and care must be integrated into decision-making. Only redefinition of impact measurement incorporating trust, empathy, and transparency can ensure transformation.”
— Aïssa Azzouzi CEO, Global Transformation Accelerator, North Africa
“As a young professional, it can be daunting to think of the responsibility of cleaning up the mess of the past generations. It is time for us to acknowledge our previous wrong doings to the world and work together towards Strategic Harmony.”
— Musa Khan, Social Entrepreneur
“EmPower Us! speaks through the language of business, reflecting many of my core values that are grounded in community. It provides a framework to begin folding together the lived experiences of folks along the economic spectrum to get us to the climate win.”
— Lindsay Harper, Climate Justice Activist, Arm in Arm
“We need a new generation of human-centered leaders that can establish trust and make decisions grounded in values that take people’s future sustainability into account and generate impact for the society at large. These concepts in EmPower Us! enable next generation leaders to achieve Strategic Harmony.”
— Roberto Croci, Managing Director, Microsoft for Startups, MEA
#empowerusworld
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Ira Kaufman earned his PhD in Marketing and MA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. His company, Catalyzer Lab, designs values-based Transformation Strategies and trains World Class Digital Leaders. He co-authored Digital Marketing: Integrating Strategy, Tactics with Human-centered Values.
Velimir Srića is Professor of Management at Zagreb University, with a PhD in IT management and an MBA from Columbia University. He is a coauthor of the International Encyclopedia of Business and Management and has published more than 70 professional books and 500 articles.
