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LEADERSHIPINSIGHTS
From the Trailblazers Shaping the Communities Around Us
By Joy Wilkins
THE ROAD AHEAD...What You'll Discover Inside
01
Become: The Inner Work
Great leadership begins from the inside out. Explore how integrity, purpose, stewardship, and character shape how leaders show up — and why the work of becoming is never finished.
02
Become: Growing Through Every Season
Each new challenge invites leaders to refine their character, expand their capacity, and align more fully with the responsibility they carry. Becoming is a continuous cycle, not a destination.
03
Connect: Relationships Built One Interaction at a Time
Trust is not built in a moment — it is earned through consistency, credibility, and relational work. Discover how the most effective leaders form, test, and renew connections across every season.
04
Connect: Partnerships Strengthened Through Service
Leadership in economic development is a form of servant leadership. Learn how a commitment to the common good sustains the partnerships that make community-wide progress possible.
05
Transform: Impact That Endures
Meaningful transformation is built layer by layer — through people who are growing, relationships that are deepening, and systems that are improving over time. Transformation is not an event. It is an accumulation.
06
Transform: The Rhythm Repeats
Each transformation reveals new opportunities to grow. Each new level of growth calls for deeper relationships. And each new connection expands what transformation can yield. Become. Connect. Transform. Repeat.
Choose Your Edition
Available in three formats — find the one that fits how you read.
What Early Reviewers Are Saying
Joy Wilkins brings together leadership insights from economic development gurus who have been among the top leaders of the profession over the last 40 years.
Jeff Finkle
Former President & CEO, International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
Ultimately, this book is an invitation to reflect on your own leadership journey, to learn from the experiences of others, and to recommit to the people and places we serve.
Nathan Ohle
President & CEO, International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
I believe this book should be required reading for anyone working in economic development, especially those who aspire to serve in leadership roles.
Louise Anderson
Former Managing Editor, International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
Frequently Asked Questions
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