I finished Harvard University’s Leadership & Creating Public Value course last month, and I was convinced of how difficult and teamwork-based a process it is to make social changes. And the leadership here really had to show courage, hope, vision, risk management, communication management, persuasion, and most importantly, to provide a social benefit…
At this very moment, Rajiv Shah was a person who achieved this transformation with his new book…
Working with a broad coalitions and dedicated teams at The Rockefeller Foundation and elsewhere, Rajiv Shah has helped vaccinate nearly a billion children, lead high-pressure responses to the Haiti earthquake and against Ebola, dramatically expanded American Covid-19 testing at the height of the pandemic, and began connecting a billion people to electricity for the first time.
To Create Global Impact And To Get The Support You Need
The book launch was exciting, with Rajiv Shah and Fareed Zakaria sharing insights and strategies for developing a bold vision that can attract support, collaboration and new ideas from key players who might otherwise resist (at the 92NY CENTER)
And what was written about him were indeed inspiring descriptions of how he accomplished this task:
“In Big Bets, Rajiv Shah gives us the playbook and thus the power to fight, work, and innovate our way to a better, more just future. This book will make you more hopeful about the world—and your capacity to change it in big ways.” —Darren Walker, President of The Ford Foundation
“This is a book that will move mindsets and inspire readers to have higher hopes not only for what we can accomplish together but also for what they can aspire to achieve themselves.” —Paul Polman, Former CEO of Unilever and Co-Author of Net Positive
“I have seen firsthand Raj lead big change —in Haiti, on hunger, and much more—with a unique combination of positivity and perseverance. Big Bets reminds us of the most difficult challenges we’ve overcome in the 21st century and gives us new inspiration for what lies ahead.” —Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former U.S Secretary of State and U.S. Senator
“Dr. Raj Shah draws on a lifetime spent pushing boundaries in global development to deliver a captivating reflection on the power of the ingenuity, innovation, and collaboration. This must-read book breaks down large-scale problems into actionable steps that we must all take to heart – because if we truly seek to make an impact in our communities, it will be one small but bold action at a time…adding up to form the big bets that will change the world.” —José Andrés, Chef and Founder of World Central Kitchen
“Raj Shah is a remarkable and visionary leader who relentlessly drives change with remarkable energy and enthusiasm. Optimistic and ambitious, Big Bets shows us the heart of his unique philosophy, and provides real proof that the big problems facing us today can be solved — if we are willing charge fearless forward.” —Admiral James Stavridis (Retired), and author of To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision and Sea Power: the History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans
“I wish Big Bets existed when I was a young entrepreneur. It shows what’s possible when people come together for the good of humanity and have the courage to take concrete steps, together making “big bets” on solutions that lead toward a more equitably prosperous, peaceful, and healthy world. An awesome, inspiring read.” —Strive Masiyiwa, African technology entrepreneur and philanthropist
“For more than a decade, I have worked with Rajiv Shah to help the Congolese people recover from the ravages of war. Simply put, Raj is one of the smartest, most optimistic people I have ever met. In Big Bets, you’ll find the tools you’ll need to take on some of our biggest, most difficult challenges.” —Ben Affleck, Director, Actor and Co-Founder Eastern Congo Initiative
“By extension, Raj Shah’s Big Bets can be instructive far beyond its headline aspiration. It can be read by a father aiming to give shape to his sons changing world, or an aid worker looking to break from the repeatedly failed patterns and short term impacts so often attempted, only to be abandoned, Big Bets offers the ubiquitous re-sets our modern world demands. From climate to conflict, poverty and politics, It is of Shah’s unique experience, and his organically clear-minded will to conceive lasting change that he makes Big Bets one helluva timely gift.” —Sean Penn, Actor, Director, and CORE Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Board
“Through powerful stories culled from his All-Star career in public service, Raj Shah provides a road map for people who care about the biggest problems of our day but don’t know where to begin to solve them. His book will inspire you to think big and take action.” —Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner
“I have had the pleasure of seeing firsthand the impact that Raj Shah has had over the course of his remarkable career. His willingness to take “big bets”, coupled with his unique blend of optimism, curiosity, vision and belief in humanity has produced large-scale change time and again. His Big Bets is a must-read, candid handbook for the next generation of change-makers, giving them the lessons and examples they need to take on the 21st century’s biggest challenges.” —Helene Gayle, 11th President of Spelman College
The Rockefeller Foundation Saying About the Book:
“On October 10th 2023, Rajiv Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, published a new book with stories—from his own career, the 110-year history of the Foundation, and leaders as well as unsung heroes around the world—that reveal it is realistic to be optimistic about our capacity to make large-scale change.
Such a bold assertion might surprise people. In the face of climate change and other crises, distrust and cynicism are leading too many to aim too low. Our institutions, including governments and businesses, are also scrambling to keep up with today’s challenges, which feel so big and complicated.
Shah wrote Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens to share stories that can help leaders everywhere, and at every level, reimagine what’s possible.
Working with a broad coalitions and dedicated teams at The Rockefeller Foundation and elsewhere, Shah has helped vaccinate nearly a billion children, lead high-pressure responses to the Haiti earthquake and against Ebola, dramatically expanded American Covid-19 testing at the height of the pandemic, and began connecting a billion people to electricity for the first time.
A playbook for transformational change
With these stories and more, the book reveals the power of the big bet mindset: a belief that seeking to solve problems boldly, rather than settle for incremental improvements, will attract partners with the capacity to achieve transformational change.
And Big Bets shares lessons learned in success and failure for those seeking to change their community or the wider world, including:
Be an optimist. Don’t get caught up in today’s cynicism.
Think bigger. Focus on what it takes to boldly solve problems.
Find fresh, innovative solutions, even ones that are risky.
Recruit and retain unlikely partners.
Fiercely measure results, learn, and persist.’’
AND NOW GLOBAL IMPACT WITH THE BIG BETS
In summary BIG BETS with, learn how to face and meet today’s challenges and design a social value proposition that is both actionable and value creating.
A true guide for leaders, organizations and countries…
You Can Get a BIG BETS Right Now and Click Here
On this meaningful day, I would like to thank him for his leadership, wisdom, sincerity, sincerity and kindness…
– Matthew Mustafa Gul, Editor in Chief – NYC
