Will Parks has combined a wealth of knowledge and experience with a commitment to making the world a better place. A passionate humanitarian with a truly global perspective, he has held senior leadership roles with UNICEF in Cambodia, Bhutan, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, and the Pacific Islands, addressing challenges with compassion and expertise. Before joining UNICEF, Will worked with the Australian and UK Aid Agencies, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and the World Health Organization, honing his skills in diverse cultural and professional settings. As a scholar and thought leader, Will holds a PhD in Public Health and Medical Anthropology and has contributed to numerous books and publications, sharing his insights at many international conferences and workshops. Certified by the International Coaching Federation, Will is also an expert coach, dedicated to guiding others on their own graceful leadership journeys.
‘This will challenge your thinking about what it means to lead.’ John Baldoni, Member of 100 Coaches and author ‘This book is an appeal to the best in us, to be a kind and thoughtful human as well as an effective leader.’ Prof. Richard Boyatzis, academic, executive coach, and author ‘Beautifully captures the essence of the compassionate and empathetic leadership needed in today’s challenging world.’ Prof. Deborah Crowe, academic, leadership coach, and author ‘Will Parks beautifully weaves in his own story of leading with grace to define what it is together with practical ways to help us become more graceful leaders.’ Paul Hargreaves, chief empowerment officer, Cotswold Fayre & Flourish, and author ‘This is a call to lead with grace. A book for our times.’ Steven Hargreaves, founder and director of The Compassionate Leadership Company and author ‘A compelling case that leading with grace is the most relevant trend of leadership development of our times.’ Kul Gautam, former UNICEF Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, and author ‘Practical wisdom combined with actionable practices that any leader can apply to create lasting, positive impact.’ Rasmus Hougaard, founder and managing partner of Potential Project and author ‘Hugely relevant to any complex environment where the stakes are high.’ Chris Whitehead, director of Damflask Consulting Ltd and author ‘Compelling! A helpful companion for those working across the humanitarian sector and beyond.’ Prof. Amy Bradley, academic and author ‘A powerful, moving, practical account of how to lead in a world of uncertainty.’ Prof. Amy C. Edmondson, academic and author ‘You will want to keep this book nearby as it is packed with pragmatic practices and tools that you’ll refer back to again and again.’ Cindy Wigglesworth, founder and president of Deep Change, Inc., and author ‘Will Parks takes us on a journey of understanding how we can go from a “command and control” way of influencing others to a more compassionate way of leading.’ Sarah Higgins, leadership coach and author ‘The stories in this book will open your heart and show how to evoke grace within your inner and outer worlds.’ Alexsys Thompson, executive leadership coach and author