In 2001, I walked out of my career as an executive in the high-tech industry. I was disillusioned by a business culture that emphasized short-term results, looked upon growth as an end rather than a means, and cared more about compliance than community. A year later, I met Meg Wheatley and a community of pioneering leaders who, like me, were walking out of organizations and systems that were failing to contribute to the common good. These were friends and colleagues of The Berkana Institute.

Deborah Frieze

I joined Berkana full-time in 2004 when, in partnership with Manish Jain of Shikshantar in India, we proposed a new initiative to the Berkana Board. The Berkana Exchange would be a trans-local learning community of people who were walking on to build healthy and resilient communities. These people are the subject of my book, co-authored with Meg Wheatley, Walk Out Walk On: A Learning Journey into Communities Daring to Live the Future Now. Walk Out Walk On is the recipient of the 2011 Terry McAdam Book Award and a Nautilus Silver Book Award for Social Change.

In 2005, I became Meg Wheatley’s successor as co-president of Berkana. I served in that capacity for four years, deepening the work of the Berkana Exchange and launching many new initiatives with partners across the globe. In partnership with Berkana’s board, we developed a transition plan for Berkana as an organization to become more powerfully aligned with its core commitments and to experiment with the future form of nonprofits. In 2009, we successfully dissolved the co-presidency and declared Berkana a self-organizing system.

Previously, I was a partner and founding member of ZEFER, an Internet services firm that integrated business strategy, experience design, technology and program management. Earlier in my career, I was an editor for Snow Country magazine, and I continue to count skiing and winter sports among my greatest passions.

I have worked in partnership with the Mastery Foundation, leading peace and reconciliation programs in Northern Ireland and Israel. Today, I serve as a speaker, consultant and advisor to numerous grassroot organizations both locally and abroad.

I live in Boston, and can often be found supporting friends and colleagues around the world who are creating healthy and resilient communities.