As mentioned yesterday, this week I’m sharing the thought leaders who have shaped my career.
Along the way, I will encourage you to consider your thought leaders.
I also hope that a few on my list might spark your interest to learn more.
One thing I noticed is that the years have gone by, but many ideas remain relevant.
Technology has advanced significantly and yet our challenges are much the same.
Now, on to my 1990s thought leaders.
The Background
In the early 1990s, I started my career at General Motors.
My early years of the decade were in engineering.
While the later years were in market research.
During this time, I was also getting my master’s degree.
The degree was an advanced engineering degree focused on organizational behavior.
I read books for work and for school.
On the home front, this is the decade I got married and had my daughter.
My Top 5 Thought Leaders
The first three were introduced to me through school.
Edward Deming: His thought leadership centered around quality, systems thinking and continuous improvement. We read his book The New Economics for Industry, Government, Education. The book introduced his System of Profound Knowledge, which integrates systems thinking, variation, psychology, and knowledge of processes to improve organizations. My interest and focus on processes and systems started here.
Peter Senge: His work centered on systems thinking and organizational learning, introducing the concept of the “learning organization” in The Fifth Discipline. This is the book I read in school. He emphasized interconnectedness, personal mastery, and shared vision to drive innovation and sustainable change. He inspired me to ensure my career had lifelong learning.
Peter Drucker: His thought leadership focused on the role of people in organizations, innovation, and the importance of aligning business goals with societal needs, introducing ideas like “management by objectives” and knowledge work. I don’t remember a specific book we read, but there were many articles of his that were referenced. My favorite book that I re-read often is The Daily Drucker. There is one page a day for a full year highlighting his thinking.
The next leader became a part of my life with my first physical planner – the Franklin Planner.
Hyrum W. Smith: He is my early years productivity thought leader. In the mid-1980s he created the Franklin Planner, a paper-based time management system. The process helped users list, prioritize, and accomplish tasks to achieve their goals. The methods taught in the system shaped how I have approached my work my entire career and how I help others achieve their goals today.
The final two thought leaders of the 1990s came from Fast Company. The magazine was launched in 1995, and I have been a subscriber ever since. The magazine has inspired countless ideas across my career and planted seeds for concepts and ideas I’m resurfacing in my own work today.
Tom Peters: A business thought leader who highlights the importance of people in business. Looking through the lens of both employees and customers. He taught me that treating people well, investing in training, and supporting communities are key to business success. The article in Fast Company that first brought him to my attention was. “The Brand Called You” in 1997. That concept turned into a book and shaped my perspective on personal branding.
Daniel H. Pink: The final thought leader on my 1990s list wrote a Fast Company article in 1998 titled “Free Agent Nation” which eventually was turned into a book by the same name. His premise was that white-collar workers would embrace project-based work and the associated freedom. Over 25 years later, I think this vision continues to become more mainstream. He continues to be a thought leader in human behavior and the future of work.
Summary
The 1990s were a foundational decade for my career.
Shaped by the thought leadership of individuals who continue to influence me today.
Edward Deming’s systems thinking.
Peter Senge’s emphasis on lifelong learning.
Peter Drucker’s focus on aligning business goals with societal needs.
These leaders inspired my approach to processes, innovation, and people-centric management.
Hyrum W. Smith introduced me to productivity with the Franklin Planner.
Fast Company brought Tom Peters and Daniel Pink into my world.
Introducing me to personal branding and the evolving nature of work.
These thought leaders laid the groundwork for my career.
They all remain deeply relevant as their insights continue to resonate in today’s world.
Your Turn
Are you familiar with any of these thought leaders?
Whose teachings do you align most closely with?
Is there a new one on this list that you want to go learn more about?