Finding Your Leadership Soul

What Our Students Can Teach Us About Love, Care, and Vulnerability

At its core, Finding Your Leadership Soul is about the important functions love, care and vulnerability play in education leadership and how our society tends to shun these characteristics in leaders, in favor of more traditionally masculine character traits (e.g. machismo, discipline, etc.). Carlos had to learn this lesson the hard way.Finding Your Leadership Soul is a series of reflections, framed around lettersCarlos writes to three young men whom he had the opportunity to teach and mentor. All three of these young men - Josue, Angel and Shawn - have passed; too young and too common for young men of color these days. Thus, Carlos' letters take the form of lessons he wishes he could have shared, impacts he wishes he could have made. Knowing that time with our young people can be fleeting, Carlos shares these lessons with the reader so that they don't miss the opportunity to introduce soul into their own leadership toolbox.©2024 ASCD (P)2024 ASCD

A Meaningful Read for Anyone Guiding the Next Generation

As a proud Met and Big Picture alum, this book resonated deeply with me. Carlos Moreno’s perspective on leadership is heartfelt, authentic, and powerful. Having known of his work within The Met community and seeing firsthand the impact of leaders like him, this book felt especially meaningful.

Now, as a mother of a young boy of color currently attending The Met, reading this brought a whole new level of emotion and reflection. It reminded me how important it is for young people to be surrounded by leaders who truly see, support, and believe in them.

Carlos’s vulnerability, wisdom, and dedication shine through every chapter. This is more than a book about leadership… it is a reminder that the next generation needs leaders who lead with compassion, authenticity, and soul.

Highly recommend for educators, mentors, parents, and anyone who helps shape young lives.