Overview

True connection at work isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. In Leading Below the Surface, award-winning author, professor, and executive coach LaTonya Wilkins offers a powerful alternative to performative corporate norms, challenging leaders to reimagine how organizational culture is built and sustained. Drawing on lived experience, neuroscience, social psychology, and cutting-edge leadership research, this book is a call to action for those who want to lead with purpose, build real trust, and cultivate teams that connect. Through compelling storytelling and grounded, actionable strategies, Wilkins shows how below the surface leadership creates deeper relationships, encourages belonging, and strengthens organizational resilience. This updated edition expands on the original insights with new stories, practical tools, and reflections on how inclusive, human-centered leadership drives results and renews organizational culture from the inside out. Whether you're a rising leader or a seasoned executive, this book is your compass to lead more courageously; without compromising who you are.

Full Product Details

9781951591847

Table of Contents

Reviews

As a People Operations Executive, working with LaTonya has been transformative for my leaders, my company, and my personal professional growth. Building a culture of inclusion at our company is critical to our success as a business -- and by working with LaTonya we have refined our connection and shared vision as an Executive Team, enabling us to make better decisions on long-term, structural strategy in D&I work. Personally, I am a better people leader due to LaTonya's coaching, her ability to operate from a place free from judgment, facilitate tough conversations, and willingness to challenge in ways that increase accountability have been invaluable. I am excited she is sharing her perspective and thinking more broadly in Leading Below the Surface and look forward to reading it again with my team. -Betsy McCann, People Operations Executive in the Tech Industry There are very few below the surface leaders. Becoming a below the surface leader is vital to the success of your organization AND the people that you lead. LaTonya's unique experience has positioned her to create this easy-to-understand and practical guide. I witnessed this firsthand when she presented at our national conference, CultureCon. The audience was engaged and she provided them with action steps to make change in their own lives and within their organizations' respective cultures. Her presentation received some of the highest attendee reviews out of any speaker we have ever had at our conference. LaTonya's book is a must-read to better yourself, the people that you lead, and your organization's culture as a whole! -Zach Blumenfeld, Co-Founder of CultureCon LaTonya Wilkins wrote the book that speaks the uncomfortable and powerful truth about the failure of DEI programs. Leading Below the Surface teaches us how to embody inclusion, going beyond trying to say and do the right things. The result will be what we all have been hoping for; finally developing real organizational cultures that truly embrace the brilliance of all people who walk through their doors. -Dr. Marcia Reynolds, world-renowned leadership coach and author of Coach the Person, Not the Problem and The Discomfort Zone. As head of Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at a top business school, I know firsthand that DEI initiatives are change initiatives, and leaders who want to make sustainable change in their organizations would do well to read this book. Wilkins' direct and accessible writing provides needed insight into what hasn't worked and what is required to create meaningful relationships across differences. -Denise Lewin Loyd, Associate Dean for Equity, Gies College of Business LaTonya Wilkins opens up a new way of thinking about leadership, welcoming readers to the lessons she's learned over the years-lessons about how leaders can build deeper, non-superficial relationships with the people they lead. She teaches us that leading below the surface not only helps people build better relationships with the individuals they lead and better cultures for their organizations, but the lessons she offers can help leaders build richer and more rewarding careers for themselves. Filled with actionable steps and exercises, Wilkins provides ideas for how to build the skills needed to lead in today's diverse, multicultural work environment-skills which too often lie below the surface, just waiting to be tapped. - Idie Kesner, Dean of the Kelley School of Business, Frank P. Popoff Chair of Strategic Management, Professor of Management

As a People Operations Executive, working with LaTonya has been transformative for my leaders, my company, and my personal professional growth. Building a culture of inclusion at our company is critical to our success as a business -- and by working with LaTonya we have refined our connection and shared vision as an Executive Team, enabling us to make better decisions on long-term, structural strategy in D&I work. Personally, I am a better people leader due to LaTonya's coaching, her ability to operate from a place free from judgment, facilitate tough conversations, and willingness to challenge in ways that increase accountability have been invaluable. I am excited she is sharing her perspective and thinking more broadly in Leading Below the Surface and look forward to reading it again with my team. -Betsy McCann, People Operations Executive in the Tech Industry There are very few below the surface leaders. Becoming a below the surface leader is vital to the success of your organization AND the people that you lead. LaTonya's unique experience has positioned her to create this easy-to-understand and practical guide. I witnessed this firsthand when she presented at our national conference, CultureCon. The audience was engaged and she provided them with action steps to make change in their own lives and within their organizations' respective cultures. Her presentation received some of the highest attendee reviews out of any speaker we have ever had at our conference. LaTonya's book is a must-read to better yourself, the people that you lead, and your organization's culture as a whole! -Zach Blumenfeld, Co-Founder of CultureCon LaTonya Wilkins wrote the book that speaks the uncomfortable and powerful truth about the failure of DEI programs. Leading Below the Surface teaches us how to embody inclusion, going beyond trying to say and do the right things. The result will be what we all have been hoping for; finally developing real organizational cultures that truly embrace the brilliance of all people who walk through their doors. -Dr. Marcia Reynolds, world-renowned leadership coach and author of Coach the Person, Not the Problem and The Discomfort Zone. As head of Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at a top business school, I know firsthand that DEI initiatives are change initiatives, and leaders who want to make sustainable change in their organizations would do well to read this book. Wilkins' direct and accessible writing provides needed insight into what hasn't worked and what is required to create meaningful relationships across differences. -Denise Lewin Loyd, Associate Dean for Equity, Gies College of Business LaTonya Wilkins opens up a new way of thinking about leadership, welcoming readers to the lessons she's learned over the years -- lessons about how leaders can build deeper, non-superficial relationships with the people they lead. She teaches us that leading below the surface not only helps people build better relationships with the individuals they lead and better cultures for their organizations, but the lessons she offers can help leaders build richer and more rewarding careers for themselves. Filled with actionable steps and exercises, Wilkins provides ideas for how to build the skills needed to lead in today's diverse, multicultural work environment -- skills which too often lie below the surface, just waiting to be tapped. - Idie Kesner, Dean of the Kelley School of Business, Frank P. Popoff Chair of Strategic Management, Professor of Management

Author Information

LaTonya Wilkins is an internationally recognized executive coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Change Coaches. Through her dynamic coaching and consulting work, she partners with leaders and teams who take a curious and bold approach to building cultures of trust, connection, and belonging. Her book, Leading Below the Surface, has been widely praised for its actionable insights and powerful storytelling. Her thought leadership has been featured in publications such as Inc. and Fast Company.

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