In a rapidly changing landscape of political, societal, and cultural pressures, today's leaders are seeking guidance and clarity. The Transformational Leader: Twelve Practices for Driving Lasting Change offers a beacon of hope in these turbulent times.
Drawing from more than 25 years of diverse leadership experience—including a prestigious American Presidential Appointment—author Hamse Warfa presents a comprehensive framework for achieving personal, team, organizational, and community success through transformational leadership.
Through twelve practices, readers are guided on a journey of self-discovery, community engagement, and shared prosperity. From understanding one's role in society to embracing and affecting change, this book provides the tools, resources, and strategies that modern leaders need to navigate the uncertainty of today's new landscapes.
This book is more than just a guidebook for new leaders; it's a roadmap to a transformative journey that leaders at any career stage can take. Each chapter includes practical lessons, personal narratives, and a focus on purpose that empower readers to become trusted, influential, and inclusive leaders, wherever they lead.
From his role advancing a global democracy agenda for the U.S. State Department to his success as co-founder and Executive Vice President of a tech start-up BanQu Inc., Warfa brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to his leadership framework. His unique leadership model, divided into twelve universal practices across four domains, empowers leaders to commit to purpose that results in actions for exponential impact.
Through insightful guidance and real-world examples, this business mindset book will explore:
- Integrity: Understanding oneself and how to both do well and do good.
- Inclusion: Valuing psychological safety to build teams for innovative work.
- Impact: Embracing change and driving action towards meaningful outcomes.
Whether you're a seasoned executive, an emerging entrepreneur, or an aspiring leader, The Transformational Leader: Twelve Practices for Driving Lasting Change offers invaluable insights and actionable strategies to help you lead confidently and clearly. Join the community of practice and embark on a transformative journey toward impactful and inclusive leadership.
From child refugee to American presidential appointee, Hamse Warfa's life and career has navigated some astonishing twists and turns. A passionate leader, he has more than 25 years of global experience across federal and state governments, philanthropic organizations, nonprofits, and in the private sector as a successful tech entrepreneur. Warfa's mission is to inspire a more prosperous world by guiding leaders to translate intangible organizational and societal challenges into tangible solutions and exponential impact.
In January 2022, the U.S. President appointed Warfa a senior advisor to the U.S. State Department to advance a global democracy and inclusion agenda including the 2023 Summit on Democracy supported by 74 nations. Warfa received a State Department 2023 Meritorious Honor Award for innovation and advancing equity in the Department's work. Prior to joining the federal government, Warfa was the Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development at the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) in Minnesota. Appointed by Governor Tim Walz in April 2019, Deputy Commissioner Warfa served as the highest ranking African immigrant official in the Minnesota executive branch of government. In this position, he oversaw Minnesota State's Employment and Training programs, the Office of Economic Opportunity, Minnesota's 51 job centers, the Governor's Workforce Development Board, and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.
In addition to his public sector work, Warfa is an innovative and successful serial entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and executive vice president at BanQu Inc., Software Company.
Warfa holds a Masters in Organizational Management and Leadership from Springfield College in Massachusetts, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego University. He also completed executive education at Harvard Business School as part of the Young American Leaders Program. He is a 2016 Bush Foundation Fellow, a recipient of the 2017 Minnesota Statewide Facing Race Award, and an Ashoka Global Fellow for his social entrepreneurship work. In addition to his new book, The Transformational Leader: Twelve Practices for Driving Lasting Change, Warfa is the author of America Here I Come: A Somali Refugee's Quest for Hope, and the producer of an upcoming documentary film.
"Hamse Warfa offers invaluable insight about the journey to becoming a great leader. I'm proud to call him an advisor and a friend." —Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
"All of us can learn from the leadership lessons in his book—a distillation of the wisdom Warfa has gained in his remarkable journey from refugee to White House appointee." —Jan Rivkin, Professor, Harvard Business School
"The story of Warfa is a hopeful reminder that the United States remains a place where a new citizen can make an incredible impact and promote the president's democracy agenda at home and abroad." —Ambassador Sam and Sylvia Kaplan, US Diplomats to Morocco
"Hamse Warfa's decades of leadership and lived experience reveal how reflection and self-discovery help leaders build the skills of empathy and help people come together through understanding." —Angie Craig, member of the United States House of Representatives
"After a challenging youth of years living as a refugee in Kenya, [Warfa] has emerged as a highly respected expert on democracy, and his understanding of the value of empathy as a leadership practice comes from powerful experiences." —Charles F. “Chic” Dambach, President Emeritus, National Peace Corps Association