Mike Valentine has an extensive career as a management consultant, executive coach, Human Resource thought leader, and educator with over 30 years of experience in a wide range of sectors. Dr. Valentine has held positions at The New York Times as Vice President of Human Resources and leadership positions at Publishers Circulation Fulfillment, as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Eaton - Cutler-Hammer International, Allied Signal (Honeywell), RJR Nabisco, Pepsi Co, and Johnson & Johnson. He is the founder of Valentine Coaching and a Clinical Associate Professor and Academic Director of Human Capital Programs at New York University's School of Professional Studies.

Dr. Valentine is an active advisor to organizations and students using Action Research. His work in this area includes relationships with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and NGOs working in developing countries to address complex global issues and plan and implement change initiatives. Dr. Valentine has an extensive coaching practice with expertise in team coaching, coaching diverse talent, and leadership programming. Dr. Valentine has active research in the areas of:

• Dignity in the workplace
• Using participatory practice as a way to solve complex problems
• Effective practices coaching executives leading change

Mitchell Kusy has had 25 years of experience in leadership and organization development. A Registered Organization Development Consultant, he is a full professor in the Graduate School of Leadership & Change at Antioch University, with a worldwide audience of students who are key leaders in their respective organizations. He is a distinguished visiting professor at the University of Auckland (New Zealand). In 2005, Dr. Kusy received the international honor of being selected as a Fulbright Scholar in Ukraine for international organization development. In 1998, he received the prestigious award as Minnesota Organization Development Practitioner of the Year.

Before entering academia, Dr. Kusy worked in industry and directed the leadership development area at American Express Financial Advisors; previously, he managed organization development for Health Partners. He consults internationally in leadership development, strategic planning, team development, 360-degree feedback, executive coaching, and organization development.

Gilles Benoit is a senior scientist at 3M and a leading innovator with over 70 patents. His breakthroughs span from developing optical fibers for life-saving medical procedures to designing cutting-edge display technologies used by Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft. Holding a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT, he bridges science, leadership, and artificial intelligence to solve complex global challenges. A pioneer in Deep Causal Learning (DCL), Dr. Benoit helps organizations turn AI from hype into measurable impact. In The Playbook for Leading Change, he shares practical insights to help leaders build smarter, future-ready cultures that can adapt and thrive through transformation.

Chapter 1 Avoid the "Spread-It-Like Peanut Butter" Approach

Chapter 2 Identify Organization and Team Transitions

Chapter 3 Improve Strategic Planning with Top Change Practices

Chapter 4 Develop Teams and the Capacity for Change

Chapter 5 Address Toxic Work Cultures: Use for Any Work Culture Shift

Chapter 6 Lead Change Now. What Are Your Next Steps?