dispatches from the new world of work

Cool Friend: John Wood

John and a child high five each other

Our new Cool Friend is John Wood. He's been featured here before when Shelley wrote about Room to Read, John's WOW! Project. Now he's written a book to let others get an inkling of how it can be done or how to become part of their own world-changing effort: Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur's Odyssey to Educate the World's Children. You can read his Cool Friends interview here. And, if then you'd like to read more, you can visit his website linked above, or go to fastcompany.com. His office sent us a bunch of pictures of John in action, as you can see. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the interview where we've posted more of them.

Cathy Mosca posted this on 10/04/06.

Comments

I believe in a similar philosophy: Live your passion, and you won't have to regret anything.

My passion is management consulting, and I do that well, and enjoy every day. I link it to my social contribution by helping people on the dole set up companies.

Entrepreneurship and education are the two most important elements of getting people out of poverty.

Posted by Arun Sadhashivan at October 5, 2006 1:28 AM

John Wood's story is both inspiring and humbling.
A great example of caring, vision and committed action.

Posted by tomjam at October 5, 2006 1:38 PM

This guy rules. I admire his heart! We could all learn from John Wood.

Posted by Rachel at October 6, 2006 10:14 AM

Tom, Thanks so much for sharing John's mission and passion. I read his Cool Friends interview and last night bought the book.

Johns work and mission, not unlike Heifer Internationals http://www.heifer.org/ is so vital to the sustainability of these individuals, their families, and communites. Not to mention our planet. And what an inspiration to me to continue making a difference in the world. Bravo John!

Nellie Moore

Posted by Nellie Moore at October 8, 2006 1:30 PM