Leadership Philadelphia urged to capitalize on ‘human potential’

Bestselling author and social change guru Malcolm Gladwell urged local leaders this morning to make the most of Philadelphia's "human potential."

Speaking to a sold-out gathering of about 540 at the Union League of Philadelphia, Gladwell offered three reasons he believes this potential, in general, is underused: the limits of poverty, "stupidity" in how leaders often approach problems, and negative attitudes.

"The question of how much we want to achieve in a certain area is up to us," he said, arguing against the idea that some people are destined for success.

Yesterday's event was the first of several planned in to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the local nonprofit Leadership Philadelphia. The organization runs training programs for business and public sector leaders in the region. Noted alumni include Mayor Michael Nutter, who went through the training program in 1989.

The organization is also known for its "Connector Project," in which Leadership Philadelphia staff compiled lists of the region's most effective leaders, or "connectors." The project was inspired by Gladwell's 2000 bestseller on social change, "The Tipping Point."

Leadership Philadelphia Executive Director and 1986 program alumna Liz Dow said Gladwell's role in shaping the agency's programs made him a natural choice to kick off the anniversary celebration.

His ideas "informed the way that we teach leadership," Dow said.

Gladwell is currently on tour promoting his newest book, "Outliers," which explores the qualities of successful or extraordinary individuals, such as Bill Gates. Gladwell, a regular writer for The New Yorker, also wrote the 2005 bestseller, "Blink," about decision-making.

Philadelphia is one of the last stops of his tour, which began in November. He also spoke Monday night at the Free Library main branch.

In an interview before his speech, Gladwell - who wore sneakers with his jacket, button-down shirt and slacks - said he wasn't aware of another program inspired by his work that is "as large or sustained" as LP's "Connector Project."

"A book is an abstract thing ... It's a writer's dream to have someone take [your idea] and make it a reality," he said.

Attendee Marybeth DiVincenzo, 53, who went through the program in 1998 and works for an economic development group in Chester County, said Gladwell's speech spoke directly to Leadership Philadelphia's mission.

By bringing together leaders from different backgrounds, the organization "gives us an alternate way of looking at our human potential," she said.

WHYY program director and 2001 Leadership Philadelphia alumna Wendy Kauffman, 53, said that when it comes to an issue like fixing local schools, Gladwell also got it right with his message about attitude.

"We can remove constraints if we care enough about whatever it is that's important to us," she said.

Leadership Philadelphia was founded in 1959 by members of the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania. The organization separated from Fels in 1978.

Since 1959, Dow said that around 3,000 local business and community leaders have passed through the nonprofit's programs. In addition to Mayor Nutter, prominent alumni over the years include Drexel President Constantine Papadakis, 1996, and Philadelphia Eagles Chief Financial Officer Don Smolenski, 2005 and Dennis O'Brien, the president of PECO (2002).

Even in the program's early days, participants "represented people who would eventually be people you wanted to deal with as you go forward in your life," John Binswanger, a 1965 alumnus and chairman of real estate company Binswanger & Co., said in a telephone interview.

"Every city needs an organization like this," Dow said, noting that there are now 400 programs around the country based on the Leadership Philadelphia model.

Over the course of 2009, Dow said the organization is planning several programs in honor of the anniversary.

The nonprofit will coordinate with local public radio affiliate WHYY to broadcast several essays by alumni about their values. The broadcasts are part of WHYY's "This I Believe" project, which airs belief statements by famous personalities and ordinary people. Mayor Nutter was the first alumnus to broadcast on Jan. 1.

Dow said the group is also working with Jane Golden, executive director of the Mural Arts Program, to put together a mural based on the "This I Believe" project. Dow said they plan to dedicate the mural at 30th Street Station in September. No decision has been made about whether the mural will be permanent.

The celebration will be tempered by the recent economic downturn, she added, which has made fundraising for programs, let alone the anniversary, hard.

Before his speech, Gladwell also expressed concern about the ability of nonprofit groups like Leadership Program to function in the near future as budgets shrink.

"Precisely at the moment we need them most, they're in the toughest position," he said.