RESTORATIVE LEADERSHIP
Restorative Leadership:
How Courageous Leaders
Are Healing The World
BY: SUSAN LEGER FERRARO AND DEBORAH LEIPZIGER
WE LIVE in a time when we are
assaulted continuously by images of our
political leaders and well-known figures
in the entertainment sector committing
disparaging acts and making offensive and
racist statements. As a counter offensive
to this barrage, we profile courageous and
conscious leaders who work to make the
world more humane, just, and sustainable.
We share examples of courageous leaders
transforming their companies, their
sectors, and the world itself.
What is restorative leadership?
Restorative leaders inspire those around
them: they provide pathways for others
to succeed and overcome barriers. They
transform!
We are fortunate to work alongside some
of these leaders and to interview them
for our forthcoming book on Restorative
Leadership. Here are some examples of
restorative leaders we admire.
Mike Brady, CEO of Greyston Bakery,
creates opportunities for people to enter
the workforce through the company’s Open
Hiring Program. Over 3,000 people have
come to work at Greyston Bakery, from
a wide range of backgrounds, including
those formerly incarcerated, refugees,
and other people escaping poverty. Mike
has created a Center for Open Hiring to
help other companies develop this kind of
life-changing program to give people a job
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and a way out of poverty. Greyston makes
the brownies for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
John Pepper, CEO of Boloco, is
committed to clean eating. Boloco is a
rarity in the fast food sector as it serves
brown rice, healthy juices, and plenty of
vegetables. John has made a commitment
to pay all Boloco employees a living wage
and to provide training to develop their
potential. Workers receive health care
benefits, life skills training, and instruction
in English. The company also provides
many employees with a 401(k) plan. John
says, “while the business model of the
food industry is to pay workers as little as
possible, I knew that we could transform