James Rhee — red helicopter- with Debbi Jarvis

Watch author James Rhee 's book talk and reading at Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C.

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In kindergarten, James Rhee received a toy red helicopter in gratitude for a simple act of kindness--the innocent generosity of sharing his lunch. Nearly four decades later, the true meaning and lesson from this memory helped him overcome indescribable hurdles as both a first time CEO and son to a dying father. Combining the radical common sense of a child with the knowledge of an experienced private equity investor and law school graduate, James led one of the most dramatic reinventions in business history. Partnering with Black women across America, James led Ashley Stewart, a twice-bankrupt retailer with no WiFi, from the jaws of liquidation to a transcendent success that inspired a world seeking a different way. And, in the process, he was able to reconcile his own complicated past and see his mom for who she truly was.

Combining the clarity and imagination we had as children with some basic business metrics, Rhee composed a system he calls "Kindness and Math." It's a simple solution to the dissatisfaction and worry so many of us feel, an intuitive response to the gnawing uncertainty we face daily as we meander through our lives and struggle to understand why we might feel so out of control in our professional and personal lives. red helicopter--a parable for our times exposes the root cause for these feelings and encourages us to embrace a few key principles to reorient our lives, organizations, and the world to reflect the best in us. In this remarkable book, Rhee provides the tools we can use to:

James Rhee is a high school teacher and Harvard Law School graduate turned private equity investor and CEO. James’s leadership story first grabbed global attention during his unlikely seven-year tenure as Chairman and first-time CEO of Ashley Stewart. After his radical and yet intuitive approach fueled a transcendent, unprecedented reinvention story for the company, James concretized his leadership philosophy and operating system—kindness plus a little math—in the form of red helicopter, his media-education platform. Rhee teaches at Howard University, where he serves as the Johnson Chair of Entrepreneurship, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Duke Law School. His TED Talk and Dare to Lead interview with Brené Brown have captured the imagination of millions. He composes systems that bridge peoples, industries, and ideas. He is the author of red helicopter (HarperOne; April 9, 2024). He lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts.

Rhee is in conversation with Debbi Jarvis, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Washington Gas. Debbi has over 25 years’ experience as a Communications and Corporate Relations executive, including substantial experience in a regulated utility environment, with a proven ability to lead teams. She is an experienced business leader and counselor to C-suite executives on image and reputation, crisis communications and management, strategic brand building and advertising, media relations, cause marketing, community engagement, strategic philanthropy, CSR (corporate social responsibility) and ESG. Debbi most recently served as Senior Vice President Corporate Relations at Howard University where she was recruited by the HU President to serve on Cabinet and create the HU Office of Corporate Relations to focus on corporate relationship building.

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Founded by Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade in 1984, Politics and Prose Bookstore is Washington, D.C.'s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub, a gathering place for people interested in reading and discussing books. Politics and Prose offers superior service, unusual book choices, and a haven for book lovers in the store and online.