A sustainable path for humanity has been John P. Schuster's passion since his days as an EPA leader. In his speech Leading Green, he explores the real opportunities we have to live in harmony with green principles as companies, citizens, community and family members. We need to think today, tomorrow, next year, next decade, next generations to do it right. We need to face facts about how we think, and how we live and work; taking responsibility is at the core of green leadership. And we need to be serious about the scope and the urgency of the decisions and work ahead, without getting so green-serious that we lose our sense of humor and wage eco-war instead of cleaning up our own messes.

John knows this topic: he was there for the first Earth Day, he was at EPA when the laws were first going on the books, he bought the second hybrid car sold in the state of Missouri - he is green through and through. And he is human, and sees his carbon imprint and consumption, as he globe-trots and discards plastic water bottles like all of us, as part of the problem. He won't come across as preachy to an audience, but he will invite, evoke, provoke, and inspire the audience to re-imagine the danger and the opportunity we face.

John P. Schuster is the founding partner of The Schuster Kane Alliance, Inc., a coaching and consulting firm he started in 1981. He is sought by established corporations, government, nonprofits and entrepreneurs for his leadership expertise and knowledge. Since he founded his business over 26 years ago, John has helped enterprises in business, government and non-profit environments meet their potential. His work has taken him to engagements on four continents.

Prior to starting his business, John was the Director of Human Resources for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Kansas City, Chicago and Washington D.C. He was voted trainer of the year by the Kansas City chapter to the American Society of Training and Development. He was a chairman for The Executive Committee, a peer-learning group for CEOs, in both Kansas City and Cincinnati. His firm pioneered the open-book management practices that tie to balanced scorecard work. The business simulation Profit and Cash®, developed to support financial and business know-how in the workplace, has been played by 450,000 people. John is an executive coach and serves as a faculty member at the coaching certification program run by Columbia University and that of the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara. He is a mentor with Merryck and Co., the CEO mentoring firm with offices in London, Sydney and New York.

His books include: The Power of Open-Book Management (1996) (Wiley & Sons), translated into four languages, The Open-Book Management Field Book (1998), and Hum-Drum to Hot-Diggity on Leadership (2001). Answering Your Call: A Guide to Living Your Deepest Purpose is his latest book, published by Berrett Koehler, is also translated into Spanish and Flemish.

He is married to his working partner, his co-preneur Patricia, gardens, hangs out with his grandkids in Columbus, hits tennis balls, plays guitar, and generally works to help those grandkids inherit the same healthy and beautiful version of the planet that he has now enjoyed for many decades.

Leading Green: Saving the Planet with Everyday Action

The tipping point has been passed. From global warming to gas mileage, from carbon footprints to Wal-Mart's green campaign, the drive to live sustainably is upon us from every angle. As in every opportunity, there are both dangers and possibilities that we face and create that did not exist even a few years ago.

In Leading Green, John Schuster explores the real opportunities we have to live in harmony with green principles as companies, citizens, community and family members. We need to think today, tomorrow, next year, next decade, next generation to do it right. We need to face facts about how we think, and how we live and work — taking responsibility is at the core of green leadership. And we need to be serious about the scope and the urgency of the decisions and work ahead, without getting so green-serious that we lose our sense of humor and wage eco-war instead of cleaning up our own messes.

Why John knows this topic: he was there for the first Earth Day, he was a leader at EPA for seven years when the laws were first going on the books, he is green through and through — he bought the second hybrid car sold in the state of Missouri. And he is human, and sees his carbon imprint and consumption, as he globe-trots and discards plastic water bottles like all of us, as part of the problem. He is not holier-than-thou (well, maybe he is a little), and he won't make people feel guilty. He will invite, evoke, provoke, have fun and inspire the audience to re-imagine the danger and the opportunity we face.

The audience will learn:

• Why our thoughts and assumptions need to change in a world of soon to be 7 billion and counting;
• What extinctions are telling us;
• Why America needs to lead and why that is a generational opportunity;
• Why all citizens lead green by the responsibility they take;
• Why individual action tied with institutional action is the hope;
• What to start doing tomorrow!

Green Articles by John P. Schuster

The Gladness and the Sadness

The Spheres

Living Off the Cheap: Currencies that Count

Guilty, Scared, Responsible?