The world we live in needs a new type of political and corporate leadership, working from a base of wisdom and timely core values. We need leaders that work towards the well being of all of us. Planetary leaders for a planetary ecosystem.  

Here is one such inspired leader, Mr. Nochi Danker of IDB Israel’s biggest holding company. When he ceased control of it in 2002 he first sat to write its credo of ten corporate goals to guide, inspire and set in motion. Amongst these first was the sound drive to return the highest yield to the shareholders; last was the determination to responsibly give back to society. Only one year later Mr. Danker called for a dramatic shareholder meeting in the cultural hall of ‘Qiryat Shmona’ a northern frontier town under the volcano of hizbulla wrath. Mr. Danker summoned the meeting for the purpose of moving the ten’s commitment to the front, second only to profitability.

Danker (54), started his career as a lawyer but was inclined to move to the more allowing and creative entrepreneurial realms of business, starting with ‘Ganden’, his own holding company. In 2002 while the israeli market was going through major setbacks and the geopolitical environments as unstable as ever, the opportunity to take over IDB cropped up. Before making the decision Mr. Danker travelled north to meet is friend, a famous rabbi known as ‘the rentgen’, (the x-ray), for his ability to pierce through the veils of the unknown. Mr. Danker was very straitforward; should i stay with my small company? bid for IDB or go to the Himalayas to meditate upon life? The rabbi said; the Himalayas can wait, go for IDB. So he did.   

Iconically handsome yet down to earth he is revered as a prodigy in his community. he turned IDB into a giant of diverse solid investments. Was it the rabbi again or his own astute senses to foresee the current financial crisis two years in advance and safely navigate IDB through the rough in a series of transaction not short of business genius.

In a rare interview to israel's largest daily ‘yediot hacharonot’ he was asked to give some advise and inspiration to young emerging entrepreneurs.
Here it is:

• -Dream for dreams are the driving force that move you forward.
• -Believe in yourself, otherwise how would others believe in you.
• -Don’t walk alone you need a great team with you.
• -Integrity should never be compromised - always deliver on your word.
• -Lean on your tenacity and endurance.
• -Set your mind on the target and don’t allow anything to distract you.
• -Be flexible and know to let go, discern changing market conditions, at times be wise enough to change the target.
• -know that you need luck to be successful.

don't procrastinate  --- cross-pollinate!

Narayana Murphy started infosys with 6 friends and 215 dollars in their pockets

last week in Athens i had the great privilege to be an opening keynote for a infosys hosted conference. Infosys the legendary software giant of india started with 7 friends gathered in the leadership of N. R. Narayana Murphy. today Infosys is staggeringly employing over 100 thousand employees in 9 development centers in India and 30 offices worldwide. what does it take to make such journey possible? listen to what N. R. Narayana has to say on organizational dignity and vision for the workplace.

it was late night in Auckland, i was walking alone along the empty wharfs of the Viaduct harbor. the gloomy musts like me were yearning for some wind with its promise of action, anchored in their hankering for past glory of the America’s Cup. well, why pine for glory of days past? i pondered in my brooding mood, instead make it better now in your brilliant solitude. easier said than done. i walked my talk like a beaten dog. the restaurants on the other side of the docks were mostly empty and none were inviting, a rowdy bar was brimmed but that country music and beer drinking crowed were not the kind of action i was after, not tonight. behind a thick plastic shield waiters were folding their restaurant away, over one table though i noticed three figures that seemed leaning over a secret or was it a chocolate desert. i looked again; god, it was Chris Alcock and with him no others then Peter and Chris Chenoweth, what a great surprise, the night turned all right.

we were all part of the summit of  corenet global, an association for corporate real-estate. i had the privilege of being the opening keynote for the event, after being the closing keynote to their previous summit in melbourne the year before and in both places i met Chris Al-cock who works for DEGW a consulting firm integrating research, strategy and design. many things impressed me in Peter’s address on workplace and the generations; i never new the current generation following the baby-boomers, X, Y and N generations is named neo-millenials or digital natives. another thing i learned from Chris is the effectiveness of passive learning and active learning in terms of retention level. here are the findings he demonstrated:

Reading                                           - less then 7% retention.
Hearing                                           - between 7-20% retention.
Combining two or more media           - 20-30% retention.
Demonstration                                 - 30% retention.
Demonstration and discussion           - 50% retention.
Practice by doing                             - 65-80% retention.
Teaching others                               - 85% retention.