Why am I passionate about this?

I was born in Toronto, yet spent formative years in Atlanta during the height of the civil rights movement. My family shared values dedicated to social justice and actively working against discrimination. Yet at times, I endured antisemitic jokes and name-calling while observing the parents of my “friends” using racist and hateful language toward Black people. We moved to the Seattle area where I later studied political science at the University of Washington, then earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the City University of Seattle. For 20+ years, I led global teams at Microsoft and Amazon.



I wrote...

Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders: A Guide to Building a Culture of Belonging

By Jonathan Stutz, Eddie Pate,

Book cover of Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders: A Guide to Building a Culture of Belonging

What is my book about?

As the smallest pebble can create ripples across vast waters, so too can small actions foster a sea of systemic…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind

Jonathan Stutz Why did I love this book?

This book opened a whole new world to me and tapped into my passion and thirst to understand the diversity of our world. I read this classic book early in my career, and it inspired a learning journey that continues to this very day. I still have my original paperback copy, which I dog-eared, tabbed, and highlighted throughout.

I found Hofstede’s book an easily consumable read that explains the differences in people and cultures from countries around the world in a manner everyone can relate.

By Geert Hofstede, Gert Jan Hofstede, Michael Minkov

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cultures and Organizations as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The revolutionary study of how the place where wegrew up shapes the way we think, feel, and act--with new dimensions and perspectives

Based on research conducted in more than seventy countries over a forty-year span,Cultures and Organizations examines what drives people apart-when cooperationis so clearly in everyone's interest. With major new contributions from MichaelMinkov's analysis of data from the World Values Survey, as well as an account ofthe evolution of cultures by Gert Jan Hofstede, this revised and expanded edition:

Reveals the "moral circles" from which national societiesare built and the unexamined rules by which people think,feel, and act Explores…


Book cover of Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business

Jonathan Stutz Why did I love this book?

I love this book as a resource guide for leading people with different styles to work effectively together. “Riding the Waves of Culture” furthered my understanding of people and cultures around the world by elevating my knowledge from how people from different cultures vary, to the next level, how the interactions between people from different cultures impact the effectiveness of our communication and working relationships.

I keep this book close to my desktop because it’s a treasure trove of stories and practical applications for resolving what the authors describe as “cultural dilemmas.” 

By Fons Trompenaars, Charles Hampden-Turner,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Riding the Waves of Culture as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

For over 25 years, Riding the Waves of Culture has set the standard for leading effectively in an international business context. Helping leaders to be highly attuned to cultural differences, and to leverage such differences for maximum competitive advantage.

Retaining its in-depth exploration of underlying cultural frameworks that have made it a business classic, Riding the Waves of Culture, Fourth Edition provides new, evidence-based information and insights on critical business matters, including:
- How to enhance and improve chances of success in M&A deals by expertly handling corporate and cultural differences
- Ways of improving and handling competencies, dilemmas, servant…


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Book cover of I Am Taurus

I Am Taurus By Stephen Palmer,

The constellation we know as Taurus goes all the way back to cave paintings of aurochs at Lascaux. This book traces the story of the bull in the sky, a journey through the history of what has become known as the sacred bull.

Each of the sections is written from…

Book cover of The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business

Jonathan Stutz Why did I love this book?

This book expanded my thinking and provided a fresh perspective, reminding me of why I became interested in this important topic years ago and continue to be fascinated by the complexity and nuances of cross-cultural communication.

Now, more than ever, we are all interconnected through advances in technology that bring us closer together. We are working increasingly with a global workforce that inherently comes with very different backgrounds, languages, histories, foods, music, religions, social norms, customs, traditions, and values.

We need to grow our understanding of people from cultures different from our own and Erin's book is a complimentary contribution to this body of knowledge; it is not duplicative but singularly unique and a refreshing read.

By Erin Meyer,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked The Culture Map as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Whether you work in a home office or abroad, business success in our ever more globalized and virtual world requires the skills to navigate through cultural differences and decode cultures foreign to your own. Renowned expert Erin Meyer is your guide through this subtle, sometimes treacherous terrain where people from starkly different backgrounds are expected to work harmoniously together.When you have Americans who precede anything negative with three nice comments French, Dutch, Israelis, and Germans who get straight to the point ( your presentation was simply awful") Latin Americans and Asians who are steeped in hierarchy Scandinavians who think the…


Book cover of Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries

Jonathan Stutz Why did I love this book?

I love this book because of its very specific tips and useful strategies for working with people from countries different than my own. I was able to better understand the culture of each country through concise descriptions of their history, language, educational system, religions, and demographics.

I appreciate that it’s organized in a methodical and consistent fashion that helped me skip to my areas of interest without having to use the table of contents or index to find what I was looking for. I also found this book a ‘must-have’ for my work in leading cross-cultural teams because it helped me to understand and appreciate different cognitive styles, negotiation strategies, value systems, and business practices. Whether you travel globally on business or for pleasure this is a wonderful resource guide.

By Terri Morrison, Wayne A. Conaway,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Your Passport to International Business Etiquette

The most authoritative and comprehensive text of its kind, Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, 2nd Edition is your must-have guide to proper international business protocol. With countries such as China and India taking on a more significant role in the global business landscape, you can't afford not to know the practices, customs, and philosophies of other countries.

Now fully revised, updated, and expanded with over sixty country profiles, Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, 2nd Edition provides invaluable information on how to handle common business interactions with grace, respect, and an appreciation for different cultures.


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Book cover of Who Is a Worthy Mother?: An Intimate History of Adoption

Who Is a Worthy Mother? By Rebecca Wellington,

I grew up thinking that being adopted didn’t matter. I was wrong. This book is my journey uncovering the significance and true history of adoption practices in America. Now, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, the renewed debate over women’s reproductive rights places…

Book cover of Tempered Radicals: How Everyday Leaders Inspire Change at Work

Jonathan Stutz Why did I love this book?

This book gave me a framework to understand change management at a strategic level, that you don’t have to create an enormous change all at once. Instead, you can take small, intentional actions. Meyerson describes this action as “dropping a pebble,” one that causes a ripple, which in turn motivates someone else to drop a pebble that also causes a ripple, which in turn motivates someone else to drop a pebble, and so on.

It is the aggregation of all those pebbles that leads to waves of systemic change. I also found Meyerson’s “rocking the boat” metaphor incredibly valuable. I learned the importance of having the courage and heart to do what is right and not what is expected. I love the “tempered radical” moniker. You need to rock the boat to effect change, but not so hard that you knock yourself and others out of the boat. You need to be in the boat to effect change. The metaphor of "dropping a pebble" and "rocking the boat" are ones we use in my own book, Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders.

By Debra E. Meyerson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tempered Radicals as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Very well researched, very readable. Anyone who feels they don't fit in or who manages those who don't fit in will want to take a look." - "Inc. Magazine". In this engaging book, Debra E. Meyerson reveals how adaptive, family-friendly, and socially responsible work places are built not by revolutionaries but by those she calls "tempered radicals," a group of people that balance company conformity with individual rebellion. While their differences often put them at odds with the "mainstream" organizational culture, Meyerson argues that these "everyday leaders" act as crucial sources of new ideas, alternative perspectives, and organizational learning and…


Explore my book 😀

Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders: A Guide to Building a Culture of Belonging

By Jonathan Stutz, Eddie Pate,

Book cover of Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders: A Guide to Building a Culture of Belonging

What is my book about?

As the smallest pebble can create ripples across vast waters, so too can small actions foster a sea of systemic change. This approach to inclusive leadership, both inspiring and practical, empowers all to take part in crafting a culture of belonging. 

The small, intentional daily leadership practices in this book are the key to creating truly inclusive organizations. There are millions of people who strive to make a difference in workplace diversity and inclusion. And with this practical, leader-friendly framework, Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders equips readers with the actionable tools they’ve been searching for. With a focus on individual leaders like you, this guide shows what small yet powerful daily steps you can take toward driving real change. Let’s get to work!

Book cover of Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind
Book cover of Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business
Book cover of The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business

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