Why It Matters

“John White has captured a lifetime of personal and professional practical leadership experiences and delivers Why It Matters with the precision of a renowned industrial engineer and the compassion of a most humble servant leader. Personifying all the roles of teacher, coach, mentor, role model, and evaluator, John has captured the reflections of dozens of leaders across the spectrum of politics, business, sports, the military, and academia while revealing their singularly unique styles, and, at the same time, their unforgettable regrets. This fabulous compendium of leadership reflections really does matter, not only for future aspiring leaders who are engaged in the process of becoming successful but also for the rest of us whose opportunity for self-reflection enables us to continue enjoying the journey—the joy of leadership.”

—Martin R. Steele, Lieutenant General, US Marine Corps (retired)

“Why It Matters is more than a leadership book. It is a story of the career of a unique person. John White has served in the trenches as a faculty member, as a Dean of Engineering, as a Presidential Appointee to the National Science Foundation and its Board and as an entrepreneur. The book tells the story of his career—its challenges and its life experiences. It is laced with leadership experiences on his part and on the part of our nation’s business, government, nonprofit, and academic leaders. It is presented with the same self-effacing honesty and sense of humor you would confront with a face-to-face conversation. This book is one you will want on your bookshelf.”

—Ray M. Bowen, President Emeritus, Texas A&M University

“John White hired and mentored me in one of my first leadership positions at Georgia Tech, and his influence on my career as a leader continued beyond the years we worked together. He is not only a leader, he’s a keen observer of leadership styles and characteristics. John is always teaching others, using data and goal-driven analyses—and dry humor! I am not surprised that his students find his course one of the best and most demanding, even life-changing.”

—Jean-lou Chameau, President Emeritus, Caltech

“John White has combined the visionary insights of a proven leader across multiple sectors with the analytical insights of an engineer to write the ultimate practical guide to leadership. Drawing upon his extensive experience in academe, business, government, and nonprofits, John synthesizes and distills lessons drawn from a variety of recognized leaders to take the reader through identifying core principles of leadership and developing leadership attributes by making generous use of examples and anecdotes drawn from his own rich experiences as well as those of many others. John then applies his lessons to the key tasks of leading organizations, and more critically, the people within them and their external stakeholders. John values transparency and allows readers to learn from his mistakes as well as his successes. I heartily recommend this invaluable book to all who aspire to successful servant leadership.”

—Norman L. Fortenberry, Executive Director, American Society for Engineering Education

“John White brings over half a century of experience as an educator and leader to Why It Matters: Reflections on Practical Leadership, a rich, lively, and detailed examination of all aspects of leadership. While sharing his remarkable personal story, John invites us to explore the words and wisdom of many other leaders who have influenced him over the years, each with a distinctive style, outlook and mission. At the same time, he guides us toward a comprehensive understanding and expression of our own leadership practices and principles. Wherever you are starting from on your leadership journey, you will find in these pages enough inspiration, insight and practical knowledge to make the most of every step along the way.”

—Gary S. May, Chancellor, University of California, Davis

“More than once, I heard John White say, ‘my goal is to be the leader of the best team, not the best leader of a team.’ I love that quote; it is one of my favorite leadership quotes. I once asked him if he created it and he said he wasn’t sure (I’m confident he is the original author of this quote). John is humble, but after reading the book I now understand why we need to be cautious about claiming authorship (this point is based on one of many great stories you will enjoy in this book). Wait until you read John McDonnell’s story in the book. Then you will understand the importance of transforming an individual sport into a team sport. This book is full of memorable stories that illustrate the leadership concepts that he is explaining. One weekend, when I began reading this book, I had planned to read just a couple of chapters, but I kept going until I had read most of the book in a single day because I was enjoying it and learning important leadership lessons. Now this is one of my favorite books on leadership and I plan on reading it again. Finally, I have observed John for many years, and I’ve even worked on a project with him, and I can tell you that he is a man of integrity and character who is a true servant leader.”

—Matthew A. Waller, Dean, Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas

“As a colleague in higher education, I’ve had the fortunate experience of being inspired by John White’s career in leadership at Georgia Tech, the National Science Foundation, and at the University of Arkansas. In Why It Matters, John shares reflections not only from his own ‘servant leadership’ philosophy, but also wisdom from leaders he has studied, built upon, and enhanced over the years. His personal values, leadership style, and community and teambuilding practices—such as including key members who think differently than you—have contributed to institutional success and transformation from fundraising to advancing national rankings. A lifelong advocate for diversity in engineering and higher education, he offers key insights into organizational cultures. John exemplifies the leadership to turn challenges into opportunities for institutional growth.”

—Henry T. Yang, Chancellor, University of California, Santa Barbara

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