.169 Dan Reed

I met Dan during the final days of my first iteration of this project, back in 2013 in Washington, DC. It didn’t take a project on gratitude, however, for me to know that I would be deeply grateful for Dan and his leadership. He immediately struck me with his kindhearted, calming and easygoing personality and he so effortlessly welcomed me, my talents, and even my areas for growth, into the Planet Forward family.

We ended up crossing paths for around two years and in that time I learned a ton from Dan. He showed me through example how to be compassionate yet straightforward, leading us through difficult challenges and obstacles with such a steady hand. His intelligence was always on display through his incredible strategy and ability to make tough decisions while weighing the many voices at play. One of my favorite things about Dan is how patient and honest he is. He always made time to really listen and focus in on what was being said. And if he didn’t have time, he’d make sure to check in later. He was always willing to grow and learn himself, as a leader, director, and human being. Put simply, he taught me a lot about what I want in a manager and about what I want to become as I progress in my own career.

Dan, thank you for being such a helpful, supportive, and friendly person to work for and with. Thank you for (literally!) being a reference and for always being a role model when it comes to working hard toward something that will better the world. Thank you for making me laugh and for handling my ridiculous stories and jokes. Thank you for your friendship and for allowing me to open, vulnerable and truly myself, each and every day. Thank you for your perspective and willingness to listen. Thank you, Dan, for being you.

-BD