People Who Shaped Us

Since we met at Case Western Reserve University and shared years of doctoral work together, our many professors were constantly in our thoughts. We thank them all, in particular for serving as advisors for some of the earliest research of this book: John Aram, Richard Boyatzis, Paul Salipante, Jagdip Singh, Diana Bilimoria, and Dick Boland. The class of 2003 also provided great insight into our research on types of network strategies discussed in Chapter 4. Sue Nartker, you helped us stay sane.

Connectors and Experts

We are sure that we used way more than Dunbar’s number in terms of people who actively helped us with this book. We may not have used their stories, but their conversations shaped our thinking. Our page numbers are limited, but to just mention a few: Dan Pontefract, brilliant thinker, expert on learning, author, change agent, and partner in reviewing the book; Bill Byham, visionary leader and talent management pioneer, for his encouragement and advice; Joseph Grenny, author and behavioral science guy, who has provided years of invaluable advice; Kevin Oakes, entrepreneur, leader, and connector, for providing connections and feedback on the broad topic; Charles Jennings, one of the most respected learning leaders in Europe, or the world for that matter, who provided connections to stories in the book; Barbara Pollack, gifted coach at The Center for Creative Leadership, who shared her incredible insights and inspired us to reach deeper into the meaning of work; Karen Kocher, extraordinary CLO with a balance of theory and practicality; Jenny Dearborn, for continuing to model growth and the ability to stretch; Joe Campbell, deep thinker and astute learning expert; Kelly Palmer, who shared her LinkedIn story and just keeps on pushing the limits of what it means to stretch a career; Linda Babcock, CMU colleague, for introducing us to Mark Fortier; Sameer Patel, social collaboration guru, for connecting us to stories; Jay Cross for years of advocacy on informal learning; Daniel Gray and Marga Biller of the Harvard Learning Innovations Lab for sharing their time and research; Gwen Havern, fun, insightful friend whose belief that people can own and change their world views inspired sections of the chapter on being open; John Ambrose, who connected us to stories to help the book stay global; and Mike Dulworth, who shared his passion for networks. For the many, many more who helped us, and whose stories are told in this book—to name a few Alexis Antes, Helen Volkov Behn, Bob Cancalosi, Rick Harwell, Chris James, and Nathaniel Koloc—our deepest appreciation. Champagne is on us the next time we meet any of you.

Supporters and Research Team

A number of people provided direct support during the creation of this book. We thank SAP for allowing us to be involved in the shaping and analysis of their global research study. Here’s a big shout out to Deb Lyons, Mona Farah, and Bri Vellis, who lived through the weeds of a nearly year-long study. Thanks to Marketing at SAP for sponsoring the budget for the survey, as well as Julie Knight, David Ludlow, Steve Hunt, Mike Ettling, Ashley Colombo, Geraldine Lim, and the team at PAN Communication for promoting the results. Our appreciation to the brilliant Oxford Economics team—Debra D’Agostino, Ed Cone, Ben Wright, and Adrianna Gregory; Sanchita Sur of Emplay for providing additional analytics on the survey; also appreciation to Josh Bersin of Deloitte and the SAP HR senior leadership team for providing early reactions and feedback on the survey results; the Athena Foundation for allowing access to its award winners during our doctoral work; Henry van Wagenberg—world traveler and all around interesting person—who found and interviewed people to collect stories for the book; Megan McFarland, who researched skills of the future for us; to the team at Wilson for their enthusiasm, especially Melissa Imes, who was always willing to do whatever it took; Brian Speer, cover and graphics advisor and master of icons and fonts; Brain Ecker, Elissa Heil, Mary Ann Naso, Camilla Rawleigh, and Mary Beth Williams, who willingly tested mindsets around campus.

Family, Friends, and Readers

Some of our closest ties were the people we prevailed upon to critique ideas and various drafts. We endlessly stretched their patience, whether as readers or for bowing out on fun adventures, but thankfully, Stretch is better as a result. Our partners: Andy Bonnewell, for that initial staycation, his love, endless patience, and abundant zeal for the book, and Steven Gerson, for his quiet support, reinforcement, and being the resident scientific advisor; our children and their partners, who gave up family time and travel, jumped on board enthusiastically, and linked us to their connections and world, whether about social media, being a Millennial or healthcare in Cuba: Sloane and Taylor Davidson, Tori Mistick, Addy Mistick, Charis and Chris Ackerson, Rena Jones and Marc Sciglimpaglia; our trainers who kept us stretching literally so that we would have the energy for the long hours this book required: Eric Lugg and Sara Sheets; David Swanson, most excellent HR advisor and reader; Teresa Roche, for being a friend, expert, reviewer, and extraordinary human being; Cindy Skrzycki, friend, fellow author, and most excellent listener; Robin Bernstein for her enthusiasm and great connector capabilities; the “Women Who Read Too Much” book club; Jayne Huston and Becky Campbell, great sources of inspiration: Larry Peters, long-term advisor, reader and friend; Rick Von Feldt, for sharing ideas and conducting interviews on an earlier vision of the book and Dr. Rene Gonzalez for building extraordinary expertise and using it when most needed.

Team Stretch

From the beginning, Katie Kotchman, our agent, believed in the content of the book and remained an enthusiastic and tireless champion even when we had to pivot; Tori Winters, book assistant, for making the details work, maintaining a sense of humor, and sticking with us right up to the frantic deadline; Trai Cartwright, development editor, who provided candid and supportive feedback on at least three versions of the book; the very responsive team at Wiley, especially Matt Davis, who, despite the shifting tides in publishing, remains a positive force and great guitar lover; Heather Brosius; Dawn Kilgore, and Rebecca Taff for production patience; and finally Mark Fortier and Courtney Nobile, who are helping us make Stretch come alive and share it with the world.

Stretch Inspiration

Barbara I owe thanks, most of all, to my parents, Bill and Georgiana, for whom work and life were one journey. This is a book about the meaning of work, and I learned from them how meaningful work and partnership could be, along with a work ethic that inspires joy and resolve. Those early memories of accompanying my father to work and watching the way in which he interacted with people inspire me still.

Karie At the other end of the age spectrum, I owe my inspiration to my two young grandchildren, Aidan and Zoe. My deepest wish is that they find meaning and happiness in their lives through beautiful relationships and important work. The future is theirs, and I hope I can provide them some guidance as they venture into the world.