Book presentation of “The Power of Compassion” at VNO-NCW | November 2009

This book describes a new style of leadership that provides managers guidance in the global crisis. The guidelines are: love of nature, compassion for people and simplicity. Experience shows that ancient mystics were also inspiring leaders. One of them was Franciscus of Assisi. His life reveals how much power lies in soft values when someone truly lives by these values. Brigitte van Baren puts the universalism of Franciscan leadership in perspective by comparing it with elements of Zen Buddhism. She also interviewed three prominent leaders: former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Ruud Lubbers, AKZO Nobel board member Tex Gunning and Brazilian liberation theologian Leonardo Boff. These interviews show how contemporary the Franciscan leadership vision is.