People Archives

Satya Nadella: Empathy Is the Cornerstone of Life & Work

How did Satya Nadella deal with his son’s disabilities? How did he apply those lessons to the rest of his life and career? The theme that is the most central to Satya Nadella’s business philosophy is empathy. For Nadella, empathy is the cornerstone of all that he does, both personally and professionally, and he believes that it’s shaped his career at Microsoft and his vision for the company. Keep reading to learn how Nadella developed empathy and why it’s so important to him.

Unresolved Trauma in Adults: James O’Brien’s Story

If you experience trauma in childhood, how might that affect you as an adult? What’s a “survival personality”? In How Not to Be Wrong, James O’Brien tells how the trauma he experienced as a child shaped his life as an adult. We compare O’Brien’s perspectives to those found in books such as What Happened to You? and The Body Keeps the Score, which take a more clinical approach to some of the same issues. Keep reading for a discussion of unresolved trauma in adults, starting with O’Brien’s own experience.

Leonardo da Vinci: Life Story and Biography

What is Leonardo da Vinci’s life story? What places did he spend his life in? Leonardo da Vinci spent his life in many places—Vinci, Florence, Milan, Rome, and France. These places influenced his art and his life story. Below, we’ll explore his life from his birth in Vinci in 1452 to his death in France in 1519, as described in Walter Isaacson’s biography of the polymath.

Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella: 5 Themes of Transformation

How did Microsoft come back to life after it was in decline? What leadership principles from the story can you apply in your own business? When Satya Nadella took over as CEO of Microsoft in 2014, the company was in decline. Once the wealthiest corporation in the world, it found itself lagging behind other tech giants like Apple and Google. Hit Refresh describes how Nadella brought new life to Microsoft by rediscovering its “soul.” Here’s an overview of Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella.

Martin Luther and the Reformation: Max Weber Tells the Story

How did the Protestant Reformation get going in earnest? What revolutionary ideas did Martin Luther introduce? In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber discusses the doctrinal developments introduced by Martin Luther and others that, according to Weber, produced the Protestant ethic. These doctrines caused people to live more systematically, ascetically, and rationally than ever before. Continue reading for Weber’s account of Martin Luther and the Reformation.

Leonardo da Vinci’s Later Life: From 1513 Until His Death

What was Leonardo da Vinci’s later life like? When did the polymath die? According to the book Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson, Leonardo spent his last years in Rome and France where he continued to paint. In 1519, he died under unknown circumstances. Read here to learn more about the last years of Leonardo da Vinci’s colorful life.

Leonardo da Vinci: The Polymath Who Knew Everything

What subjects was Leonardo da Vinci proficient in? Was Leonardo da Vinci a polymath? A polymath is an individual who has extensive knowledge in many subjects. Leonardo da Vinci is a great example of one, having knowledge in mathematics, art, hydrology, and more. Let’s take a look at the subjects Leonardo was advanced in.

Why Do Hurt People, Hurt People? James O’Brien’s Story

Why do hurt people, hurt people? Can hurtful people change course by healing their own pain? James O’Brien would have counted himself among the “hurt people hurting people.” He started his own journey by exploring his childhood trauma in therapy. O’Brien claims that only by getting to the root of our pain can we learn to have empathy for others. Keep reading to learn O’Brien’s story of awareness and healing.

Cesare Borgia and Leonardo da Vinci’s Partnership

What was the relationship between Cesare Borgia and Leonardo da Vinci? What did Leonardo learn from Cesare? When Leonardo da Vinci returned to Florence in 1500, he met Cesare Borgia. In the biography Leonardo da Vinci, Walter Isaacson says Cesare allowed Leonardo to use his engineering skills for the military. Check out how Cesare Borgia and Leonardo da Vinci met, and how they benefited from each other.

Was Leonardo da Vinci a Scientist? Technically, Yes

Was Leonardo da Vinci a scientist? Why was Leonardo interested in science? Unlike other Renaissance intellectuals, Leonardo da Vinci didn’t study the classics. Instead, he based his education on scientific methodologies such as experiments and observations. Check out why Leonardo da Vinci is technically defined as a scientist, according to his biography by Walter Isaacson.