Congratulations!

Over the past 5 months I have made it a point to once a month set aside time in my schedule to seek the tutelage of an incredibly brilliant and dynamic woman. I was introduced to her through a good friend of mine at a twin tech happy hour in July of this year. We immediately connected and have made it a point to set aside 2 to 3 hours a month to exchange ideas, pick each others brains and discuss the future of business, culture and creativity. Just a couple of weeks ago she arranged a phenomenal event, with Daniel Pink, which garnered much praise here in the creative community of DC.

Just recently she was mentioned in a FastCompany.com article as a visionary leader, which doesn't surprise me at all. I am writing this to say that if you aren't paying close attention to Michelle James, I highly recommend you do. A portion of the article I've included below (you can read the full article here).

Visionary Leadership posted by Seth Kahan

A visionary leader perceives challenges and growth opportunities before they happen, positioning people to produce extraordinary results that make real contributions to life.

I have begun working with a select group of people around the world who are interested in fostering visionary leadership in their own lives, and will be helping me to develop audio and video materials on this topic that will be made available free through my website.

I asked them, Who comes to mind when you think of visionary leaders? Here is a compilation of their responses:

Maya Angelou, for her consistent, inclusive outreach through writing on tough and challenging topics, and for being willing to consistently stand up and lead as an African-American woman beginning in the 1950s. As a poet, she taps into her core and exposes it in a way that inspires us.

Barbara Jordan, African American congresswoman from Texas for her clarity, brilliance and understanding of justice.

The Dalai Lama, for his ability to incorporate new ideas into his traditional framework while being a messenger for peace and enlightenment for the world.

Michelle James for her commitment to bring creative expression into the work environment in a very deep and meaningful way. And her ability to create safe spaces so people can express their own uniqueness without judgment and in collaboration with others.

Barak Obama for his ability to galvanize and inspire people with the vision that we can transform our consciousness & world. Nothing seems hurried, good decisions are made at the right time. (b) his inspirational messages were trounced early on as giving us false hope, false expectations, yet his response was that “in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.” That spoke to people’s inner Amen, and what they want to believe deep down about the stories of their country and themselves. (c) for his ability to inspire a country and implement a grassroots organization of massive scale which gave people the tools and opportunity to truly participate in shaping change.

Millard Fuller, founder and former president of Habitat for Humanity, for making millions by 29 and then creating a nonprofit that builds homes for those in need for the price materials and with the labor of volunteers.

Barbara Brennan for her ability to clarify and communicate her gifts in order to empower others to achieve their greatest potential as humans and healers.

Again congratulations Michelle on being phenomenal!  Your journey as a visionary has only begun!