I was so honored and delighted to personally pay a tribute at our recent book launch event to two of the Grateful Leaders featured in my new book: Captain Daniel E. Sosnowik, Commanding Officer of Leadership Training Section, NYPD and Kimberly Supersano, Chief Marketing Officer of Prudential Annuities. As you can probably tell from their warm smiles, they are delightful human beings as well as fabulously effective and grateful leaders. What always strikes me about all of these leaders is their humility and their true gratitude for the opportunity that they have to lead others.

The book launch was a delight as Founder, President & CEO E. LaVerne Johnson and I paid tribute to the two leaders who were present, as well as all of the others who were there in spirit. IIL made a donation to Covenant House New York Mother and Child Program, for homeless moms and their babies, in the name of each of the 11 Grateful Leaders plus book contributor Joanna Durand, Managing Director, Citigroup. Each leader was presented with a framed Grateful Leader Certificate and a writing or drawing by the mothers in the Covenant House program, showing one thing for which she is grateful.

To me, it seemed that all who were present were moved and inspired by each other and a lot of great connections were made! Given the success of this event, I am so excited that IIL has decided to make the Grateful Leader tribute an annual event. Please tell us who you think deserves such a tribute, and once we speak with them and agree, they will be profiled on this website and be a candidate for an official tribute in 2013.

This year’s recipients, in addition to the two leaders who were present, are listed below:

–Mark Addicks, Chief Marketing Officer, General Mills

–Lynn Batara, Enterprise Project Management Office Director, Franklin Templeton Investments

–Michael Case, President & CEO, The Westervelt Company

–Janis O’Bryan, Chief Information Officer, Hudson Advisors

–Primitivo Davis, Brigade Chaplain, U.S. Army

–Walter Robb, Co-CEO, Whole Foods Market

–Tom LaForge, Global Director of Human and Cultural Insights, The Coca-Cola Company

–Xavier Joly, Global Director of People Development, Volvo Powertrain

–Roberto Daniel, Senior Director of Engineering, Quality and Continuous Improvement, Invensys Controls

Please join me in celebrating and paying tribute to all of these wonderful Grateful Leaders! We look forward to seeing your Grateful Leaders on next year’s list!

Go grateful!