CFAR: Consulting and Coaching

We are deeply saddened to share the news that Tom Gilmore, a CFAR founder, a friend, a dear colleague, and an amazing human being, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Tom influenced the lives of countless leaders and organizations through his work and insight. He supported and guided leaders of foundations, academic medical centers, universities and civic organizations through times of enormous challenge and opportunity. He shared wisdom, curiosity, provocative ideas and applicable tools with all who were fortunate to spend time with him. Tom was judicious and prolific. Skeptical and reflective. Discerning and generous. He was a world traveler with advice about food and culture in cities across the globe, and an unwavering champion of his adopted home, Philadelphia.    Together with his CFAR cofounders, Tom built a firm that aspired to be — and became — an organization that could outlast them. He was committed to doing all he could to ensure that the work CFAR’s founders cared so much about would flourish and grow in a next generation. Tom pushed us to write and to think, challenged and supported us and made us smarter and more capable without even knowing the fullness of his impact. As we look to the future, we know that we are building and growing on the shoulders of our founders. Today, we have lost a giant. We will continue to work every day to advance our mission with purpose, meaning, and the kind of investment in each other and in our clients that would make Tom proud.

This week's summer reading recommendation comes from CFAR Senior Manager, Eliza Orleans. "You know when you’ve been waiting years for an author you love to release their next book? I waited 6 years, and it’s here!"

This week's summer reading recommendation comes from CFAR Principal Barry Dornfeld. "I look forward to reading Ethan Mollick’s new book "Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI." I have been following Professor Mollick’s writing on AI for some time and find it both theoretically provocative and ultimately practical as I navigate the complex journey of working and living with artificial intelligence."

In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, the boundaries between our personal and professional lives are increasingly blurred. This shift has made prioritizing mental health in the workplace more crucial, and the path to creating a mentally healthy workplace culture requires commitment from leadership and employees alike. In a new blog, Managers Jessica-Marie Hutchison, JD, and Sara E. Miller share tips and considerations for leaders to successfully cultivate a culture of mental wellness and psychological safety. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eWykNVGR

A robust and resilient culture is critical to a family enterprise's success — and for owner-led organizations to continue to grow and thrive, they need to adapt across generations. CFAR Manager Tom Warren Bonner shares his insights on preserving a business's founding leaders’ values and vision while making room for necessary innovations. Read Tom's blog, "Bridging Old and New," here: https://lnkd.in/eTu7hGFi

Welcome back to CFAR’s Summer Reading Series! This week's recommendation comes from CFAR Manager Cecilia Madden. “I just finished 'The Great Believers' by Rebecca Makkai, which was recommended to me a few years ago by a colleague who was trying to encourage me to read more fiction. It is heartbreaking and revelatory and a true page-turner.”

Tensions in organizational culture can be viewed as a challenge or an opportunity. CFAR's latest edition of Fieldnotes from Culture Lab explores three cultural tensions we see in our work: 1. Continuity and change in family businesses 2. The orientation of a healthcare system’s culture towards patients or staff 3. Productivity and pace in the workplace Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ewzcXwFx

Please join us in congratulating Lauren Howard and Alexander Steenstrup on their promotions to Associates! In addition to being engaged CFAR citizens, Alex and Lauren bring their intelligence, creativity, and helpful insights to every project they work on. We are proud of their accomplishments and contributions to our team.

Welcome to CFAR’s Summer Reading Series! Our team’s first recommendation comes from CFAR’s Director of Marketing and Growth, Victoria Nessen.   “I’m excited to read "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. Through humor and curiosity, Bill Bryson always has my next question explored. In "A Short History of Nearly Everything" (published in 2003), Bill Bryson explores big concepts with leaders in archaeology, anthropology, and mathematics. I know he will have me laughing out loud and expanding my mind while I bask in sunshine along various shorelines on the East Coast.”

A robust and resilient culture is critical to a family enterprise's success — and for owner-led organizations to continue to grow and thrive, they need to adapt across generations. CFAR Manager Tom Warren Bonner shares his insights on preserving a business's founding leaders’ values and vision while making room for necessary innovations. Read Tom's latest blog, "Bridging Old and New," here: https://lnkd.in/eTu7hGFi