An Update on our Fellow, Mark Gerzon
Since the World Business Academy’s founding, we have been consistently supported by our dynamic team of Fellows. It is our continued goal to leverage and catalyze the ideas of our Fellows as they do for us.
Mark Gerzon is the president of Mediators Foundation and is one of the key architects of the field of global leadership and an experienced facilitator in high-conflict zones. He has advised a wide variety of organizations including the US Congress, multinational corporations, and UNDP. The author of numerous books, including Leading Through Conflict and Global Citizens, he is currently dividing his time between international leadership workshops and building a transpartisan movement in the USA. For more on Mark’s bio, read here.
One of Mark’s most notable recent projects is the release of “The Reunited States” documentary, based on his 2016 book of the same name.
A description of the movie from Amazon: “Today the United States seems hopelessly divided. In the past, Americans could disagree without demonizing each other. But now healthy partisan debate has been replaced by brutal political brawling, where nothing but winning matters. Loyalty to party has replaced love of country. The solution, says Gerzon, is to become part of the movement to reunite America. If you’re open to learning instead of insisting you already have all the answers; if you’re open to change instead of remaining where you’ve always been; if you’re open to working with people you disagree with instead of vilifying them; if you’re open to finding new solutions instead of clinging to the same old positions; in short, if you place country above party, you are already part of this movement. The Reunited States of America describes the roots and core beliefs of the movement, and uses real-world examples to show how transpartisans are already making a difference all over America.”
You can watch the movie here on Amazon Prime.
Mark also currently serves as a director for Philanthropy Bridging Divides. Now in its third year, this project brings together senior leaders of America’s major philanthropies from across the political spectrum. According to the Mediators Foundation website description, the project stemmed from the goal of bringing bring a select group of philanthropic leaders together, from the center left, the center right, and the center, to talk about what the philanthropic community can do to help bridge the divides that currently dominate our political, cultural, economic and social lives.In the aftermath of the 2016 election, philanthropic leaders of every stripe–private, community, family and corporate–have been discussing and debating what their role can and should be during this difficult time. Many philanthropic leaders are coming to the conclusion that they can both fight for the causes in which they deeply believe and be a part of a conversation about what role they can play in turning down the volume on the vitriol and divide that currently dominates our national dialogue.The Mediators Foundation also has many other projects going on aiming to bridge the divide in American politics. For a full list, check out the website!
