In these polarized times when the words Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) are often reduced to buzzwords or used as political flashpoints, this book offers a refreshing, clear-eyed examination of what Holistic Leadership entails. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to deepen your impact on your organization, this book shows you how to build momentum, create motion, and lead all with purpose.
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Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to deepen your impact on your organization, this book shows you how to build momentum, create motion, and lead all with purpose. Concise and highly accessible, it is designed to be the reference you return to time and again.
Leadership and the components of leadership have always been analyzed, debated and discussed. DEIB has taken its place as a part of these debates. DEIB, as a discipline of leadership, has always been an evolving social economic science. DEIB has always manifested itself based on an ever evolving and perpetually changing mixture of the environment, human mental acuity, attitude and human psyche. It has been characterized by DEIB professionals and practitioners as a perpetual “work-in-progress” that will always have a profound effect and impact on the effectiveness of any organization.
The authors of Holistic Leadership have “lived the experience” of identifying and solving the challenges of DEIB in organizations, companies, governments and the academic community.
Their experience, education and training has made them well known and sought after experts in the leadership/DEIB space. Their concept of leadership and how the principles of DEIB and leadership are inevitably intertwined and show an undeniable impact on the effectiveness of any organization. After years of collective experiences, these two brilliant minds have decided to collaborate on writing Holistic Leadership addressing how and why this concept could be effectively integrated into the very fabric of any organization and/or company.
This book demonstrates and definitively shows how the principles of DEIB must be tracked and monitored just like any other discipline of an organization and/or company. By doing so, it puts an organization into a constant mode of continuous learning, thus an organization is inevitably constantly in a mode of continuous improvement. If the organization is committed to digesting these learnings, while remaining unbiased, and turning these learning into transformative policies, procedures and practices, it should be successful in running an effective organization.
Holistic Leadership does this by not just quoting the obvious of what your desired outcome will be, but more importantly, this book tells you how you get to the desired outcome.
Holistic Leadership will be one of the leaders in the development and implementation of concepts and effective tools in the “how to” guide for developing effective leadership within the leadership/DEIB space for years to come.
Having collaborated with Frank for many years, I can personally attest to his unwavering passion and dedication to the principles and practices outlined in this work. His pragmatic approach to fostering welcoming and inclusive environments has always been evident. Holistic Leadership particularly shines in its “meet them where they are” philosophy, effectively addressing the operational realities companies face in this space. Rather than imposing initiatives that an organization may not fully grasp or be prepared for, the authors present a process that begins at an organization’s current stage, guiding it toward creating an environment where all team members feel welcomed and supported.
Holistic Leadership stands apart from any other leadership book I have encountered. It compellingly argues why all leaders must embrace the perspective, as Mr. Hershey so aptly put it, that “Business is a matter of human service.”
In their enlightening book, Holistic Leadership: How to Weave Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, Deborah D. Vereen, CCDP/AP and Frank Miles, Esq. present a remarkably engaging and practical approach to leadership development. Drawing from their unique experiences, Deborah’s extensive background in business and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) initiatives, combined with Frank’s sharp legal expertise, provides an insightful and grounded perspective that resonates deeply with today’s leaders. The authors artfully emphasize the significance of cultivating a culture of belonging through sequential, holistic, and systemic change, offering a timely and invaluable contribution to the discourse on leadership in the current political environment. Leaders striving to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace, empower critical thinking, and foster truly inclusive cultures will discover a wealth of strategies and resources within these pages. Moreover, Vereen and Miles are passionately committed to creating environments where individuals not only thrive, but organizations also achieve lasting success. This book is an essential guide for anyone eager to elevate their leadership journey and make a lasting impact in their organization.
As a gay community college president who has committed his life’ work as a college leader to advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), I found Holistic Leadership to be both practical and visionary. It directly confronts the performative, surface-level DEIB efforts that too often fail to drive meaningful progress, offering instead a strategic and systemic framework grounded in organizational self-awareness and true cultural transformation.
What resonates most is the book’s commitment to meeting institutions where they are—recognizing their unique histories, leadership structures, levels of readiness, and the deeply entrenched realities of institutional and systemic racism and homophobia. This tailored, honest approach is especially critical in higher education, where aligning DEIB with mission, values, and student success is not just important—it is imperative.
Holistic Leadership doesn’t just provide tools; it equips educational leaders with the mindset, language, and strategy needed to dismantle barriers and embed equity into the very fabric of institutional life. It is essential reading for anyone serious about breaking the chains of systemic oppression in education and building a truly inclusive culture of belonging.
As a leader at an organization that is committed to the principles of DEIB, Holistic Leadership enhanced both my ability to integrate those principles into my planning and how I carry out my responsibilities. It also informs how I explain to others why these principles are so important to achieving our objectives as an educational institution.
Working with Frank in my previous position I saw firsthand how important it is to develop savvy organizational intelligence – one of the key components of the Holistic Leadership approach – to garner support for initiatives from the decision-makers and influencers able to make them a reality.
For leaders at any level, Holistic Leadership is a must-read. It not only challenges you to rethink the way you lead but also offers the clarity and resources needed to create a truly inclusive and thriving workplace where everyone can belong and grow.
Holistic Leadership presents a framework that is rooted in the critical question of whether an organization’s commitment is merely verbal or consistently demonstrated. It offers clarity, courage, and a tested path forward.
Holistic Leadership affirms a truth every DEIB practitioner must hold: we are called to meet institutions where they are yet must be wise enough to know when the ground is fertile for change and when it is not. This is more than strategy; it is a safeguard for a practitioner ’s integrity, resilience, and purpose.
By translating vision into the language and culture of each organization, this approach moves DEIB from aspiration to sustainable action, empowering practitioners to discern not only how to advance, but also when to go, and when to let go.
Many HR leaders and executives struggle to advance DEIB beyond checklists and isolated trainings. What’s often missing is a clear, practical plan for creating lasting cultural change. Holistic Leadership fills that gap. Using simple language and a step-by-step approach, the authors show how to align organizational values, behaviors, and workplace practices with the core principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
As an HR leader, I sincerely appreciate the book’s emphasis on meeting organizations where they are while still holding a vision for progress. It is not about theory; it is about actionable strategies that leaders at any stage can implement to foster dignity, safety, and belonging. Holistic Leadership is a resource I will return to often and one I believe every HR professional should have at hand as we work to build stronger, more inclusive organizations.
Holistic Leadership is going to be the “GO TO BOOK,” your own encyclopedia of DEIB Knowledge. Your reference of clear concise answers to the questions that you did not want to raise your hand and ask because you were afraid or embarrassed to ask, but you needed the honest answers.
I was a HR Professional, who thought I knew this subject but after attending seminars and discussions presented by these authors I realized how little I actually knew. I was fortunate enough to be open minded to accept these practices through a different lens. Now I am like a sponge anxiously awaiting more knowledge.
The content is as relatable to a new Hire Recruiter as well as a company President. The concepts are different from most of the books I had read on these subjects. There is no question left unanswered because you will begin to see a different perspective.
I now have a different lens than most HR Professionals because of my exposure to REAL DEIB Practitioners who live and breathe equality.
This book will be your investment to your career longevity.
By providing a roadmap for approaching leadership holistically, the authors clarify how to align DEIB with the organization’s mission and goals in this very effective educational resource guide. Rather than stepping away from DEIB, Vereen & Miles emphasize the urgency of continuing the work, so it becomes a part of the organization’s DNA, thus the importance of DEIB is never in question.
Holistic Leadership should be referenced by every current and future leader as they guide their organizations toward future success.
Deborah Vereen and Frank Miles are leaders in DEIB and more importantly believe that successful organizations have DEI interwoven into their organizational cultures.
Over their careers in corporate America, they have found successful organization’s DEIB initiatives are naturally interwoven into organizational cultures. It’s effortless and natural.
Deborah and Frank focus on core values, relationships, the way we relate with each other, our customers and competitors. Given the increasing diversity of our nation and a truly global economy, it’s an evolutionary process, but it’s the future, and it’s critical to successful organizations.
Their book is a positive, helpful guide for organizations to become better, build better workplace cultures that contribute to tomorrow’s success.
Holistic Leadership: How to Weave Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Principles into Your Organization’s DNA is invaluable for any business or nonprofit committed to institutional integrity and long term value. The authors of this change-making book bring to bear, in a comprehensive and cohesive manner, many decades of experience in the corporate and non-profit sectors.
Holistic Leadership is more than a manual: it is a strategic call to action. With clarity and conviction, it guides leaders in aligning DEIB Principles with the organization’s purpose, embedding those principles into every facet of decision making, talent management, and organizational culture. Its interdisciplinary framework—anchored in organizational intelligence, courage with knowledge, and an approach that is both sequential and sustainable—elevates DEIB from policy to practice. This volume is essential reading for any leadership team seeking to embed DEIB at the core of strategic planning and governance. It provides the roadmap needed to transform good intent into systemic change.
The business imperative for building a diverse workforce remains well-established. Holistic Leadership gives leaders the framework required to achieve the stellar results that positively impact the company and its people. Every business leader requires guidance in meeting the ongoing challenge to build and maintain an effective workforce.
Holistic Leadership is a natural follow-on to the principles and ethos established with the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People series, with the added benefit of setting forth the template for achieving success.
I recommend Holistic Leadership to every visionary board member and executive leader.
Many organizations fail to treat DEIB as a priority because they are unfamiliar with it and uncomfortable with it. There is no uniformly accepted road map or best practice for converting DEIB principles into practice.
Using clear language and an intentionally sequential approach, Holistic Leadership shows how to lead systemic change by educating an organization about how to connect its value systems, behaviors, workplace expectations, and practices to the principles of DEIB.
As President of the Diversity & Inclusion Professionals of Central Pennsylvania, which the authors co-founded, I have seen the lasting effects of their approach to DEIB. Members from a wide array of organizations have embraced the concepts explained in Holistic Leadership and are using its “how to” lessons learned to improve their effectiveness.
I have no doubt that Holistic Leadership is destined to become a much relied upon resource among our membership and organizations across the country.
Order your e-book, paperback or hardback copy at one of these retailers.
