Erika Andersen, founder of Proteus International and author of Being Strategic

Erika Andersen is founder of Proteus International (www.proteus-international.com) Since 1980 Erika Andersen has become known for promoting learning and change in ways uniquely tailored to her clients' challenges, goals, and culture. She focuses on thoroughly understanding each organization and on collaborating with her clients in ways that are engaging, direct, and "learner-friendly." Erika uses metaphor and models to help people learn about themselves and their organizations, and then to decide how to move toward the future they envision. While she encourages clients to think deeply and to examine their assumptions and patterns of behavior, she also offers practical methods and skills for individuals, teams, and companies to achieve their hoped-for-future. Much of Erika's recent work has focused on organizational visioning and development, executive coaching, and collaborative change and learning. In these capacities she has served as consultant and advisor to the CEOs and top executives of a number of corporations, including MTV Networks, Hewitt Associates, Turner Broadcasting, MillerCoors, NBC Universal, Union Square Hospitality Group, CBS, Madison Square Garden, and Comcast Corporation. Her book, Being Strategic (www.beingstrategic.com), is one of my favorite books. It's one of the three books I keep handy. Why? In an ever-changing environment it is important that I assess opportunities while Being Strategic. And her books offers powerful, clear, actionable steps to insure I am Being Strategic in my considerations for big projects or small. In fact, I ask each guest on this show to take a step recommended by Erika in her book. That step is to identify the 'reasonable aspiration or hoped-for future' for a project, a business, a life-change. Their answers are always inspiring, just like her book.