Thought Leadership
I’m an internationally known author, speaker, TEDx presenter, scholar, and podcast host.
Here’s an overview of my thought leadership over the years:
My TEDx Talk
“Social Justice Leadership in Living Systems” (2011)
TEDx HGSE (Harvard Graduate School of Education”
Developing Servant Leadership at Scale:
How to Do It, and Why It Matters
COMING IN SPRING OF 2025!
My next book will be published by Emerald Publishers, with a Forward by renowned Harvard Business School professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter. It presents the approach I’ve developed to building an organizational capacity to guide hundreds or thousands of individuals through a powerful process of inner development while also staying focused on impact.
Stay tuned for news and updates in the months ahead!
Early Reviews
“The first move I made after launching the New Politics Leadership Academy was to hire Max. Nobody else knew how to do this kind of deep inner work at scale. Thanks to the approach shared in this book, the thousands of servant leaders who have come through our programs are more connected to their own “why”, more conscious of their own shadow, and more able to lead with clarity and integrity. And now hundreds are elected leaders at every level from School Board to Congress. Max’s approach is proven, tested, powerful, and vitally important at this critical moment for democracy here in the US and around the world.”
Emily Cherniack
Founder and Executive Director of New Politics and the New Politics Leadership Academy, named to the Politico 50, a list of "thinkers, dreamers and doers driving politics" in 2018.
“Klau tunnels through a mountain of literature with a path to inspiring servant leadership at a scale sufficient to address complex 21st century challenges. This is a book to meet our moment, both deeply personal and widely applicable for anyone who wishes to deliver transformational experiences at scale.”
Julia Fabris McBride,
Chief Learning and Development Officer, Kansas Leadership Center
“This book is a game-changer for those who want to enter the arena of public service. Max's approach to servant leadership is not only simple but profoundly powerful - and was instrumental as I prepped for my mayoral campaign. I wholeheartedly endorse this book for anyone who wants to make a lasting difference in the world.”
Philip Jones
Mayor of Newport News, Virginia & Marine Corps Vet
Race and Social Change: A Quest, A Study, A Call to Action (2017)
My first book focuses on a provocative educational exercise that simulates an unjust, hierarchical, Jim Crow-style social system that undergoes a process of transformation. The book explores the relationship between individual transformation and large scale social change, and is grounded in the fields of social psychology and complex systems.
In the months after the murder of George Floyd, my book was featured on multiple lists of recommended anti-racism resources alongside titles by Michelle Alexander, Ibram X. Kendi, Robin DiAngelo, and others.
Reviews
"Provocative and deeply reflective….Articulate & wise….Klau inspires because he provides both a sober analysis of the complexity of race relations, and provides a practical way forward."
—Ronald Heifetz, Co-founder, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School
"Max Klau brilliantly helps us to understand racial privilege and inequity from an interrelated systems perspective. This is a must read.”
—Cynthia Cherrey, President and CEO, International Leadership Association
"A learning journey and a jewel…for anyone who craves unity and harmony in our divided and challenged world.”
—Charlie Rose, Senior Vice President and Dean, City Year
“Brilliant….A Tour de Force”
-Rabbi David Jaffee, author of Changing the World from the Inside Out.
“Undeniably important to society today.”
-Book review, Gobs of Reviews
“I couldn’t put this book down.”
-Reader review on Amazon
A portion of all proceeds from this book are being donated to Restaurant Opportunity Centers United, an organization dedicated to improving wages and working conditions for the 14 million people who work in America’s restaurant industry.
Academic Publications
New Directions for Youth Development: Youth Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 2006)
I served as co-editor of this journal issue and contributed a chapter entitled "Exploring Youth Leadership in Theory and Practice." It includes two of the most frequently cited papers on the topic of youth leadership.
The Handbook for Teaching Leadership (Sage, 2011)
I contributed a chapter entitled "City Year: Developing Idealistic Leaders Through National Service."
Creative Social Change: Leadership for a Healthy World (Emerald Group, 2016)
Together with co-author Jill Huffnagel, we contributed a chapter entitled "Strengthening Communities Through Adaptive Leadership: A Case Study of the Kansas Leadership Center and the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center."
Articles & Blog Posts
Over the years, my writing about leadership has appeared in publications including Fast Company, the Harvard Business Review, and the Huffington Post. Here's a sample of my articles and blog posts:
Why leaders must confront their shadow…and how to make it happen (Brainz Magazine, February 22nd, 2023)
Our values & servant leadership: Humbition (New Politics Leadership Academy Blog, January 2020)
It's About Leadership: How New Politics Seeks to Transform American Politics (Huffington Post, June 2017)
We're Asking Again: Do You Feel Called to Enter the Arena? (Huffington Post, January 2017)
Why Politics in America is Failing...And What We Can Do About It (Huffington Post, September 2016)
How to Solve a Complex Issue in 90 Minutes (Fast Company, January 2015)
Developing Leaders on a Moving Train (Huffington Post, May 2013)
How to Change the World: A Breakthrough Idea from the Front Lines (Huffington Post, March 2012)
On Heroes, Civic Leaders, and Social Change: Reflections on Black History Month (Huffington Post, February 2012)
21st Century Leadership: It's All About Values (Harvard Business Review, May 2010)
Interviews
I’m frequently invited to appear as a guest on podcasts, radio shows, and video interview shows. Here’s a sample of these appearances:
Podcast Appearances
The Growth Blueprint #4: Dr. Max Klau, July 2024
The ManKind Podcast Episode #117: Driving Social Change: Harnessing Power and Love on a Hero’s Question, Sept. 2023.
Tending the Shadows Episode #6: Shadow Work and Servant Leadership, Sept. 2023
Quantuvos Episode #35: The Inner Journey of Leadership, June 2023
The Wonder Dome Episode #33: The Inner Flame, November 2020
DistantJobs Podcast, December 2019
Mentalligence Radio: Episode #4, September 2019
City Year Podcast: Race, Social Change, and National Service, March 2017
Visions of Education Episode #37: Leadership Development and the Importance of Space, December 2016
Radio Interviews (partial list)
“The Bruce Cook Conversation”, December 11th, 2022
“Race and Social Change: Science and Spirit”, Northern Spirit Radio, May 24th, 2019
”The Morning Show with Greg Berg”, WTGD, Kinosha Wisconsin, March 22nd 2019
”Keeping Democracy Alive with Burt Cohen”, WSCA, New Hampshire, March 21st 2019
”Ideasphere: A Platform for Today’s Voices”, PRX, San Louis Obispo California, March 25th, 2019
“The Jefferson Exchange”, WJPR, Oregon Washington, March 6th 2019
Video Interviews and Appearances
Exploring Leadership with Max Klau, interview by Kathryn Goldman-Schuyler, April 2020
Who is a Leader? Presentation at Don Bosco Institute in Guwahati India, July 2019
Let the World Know you Want to Succeed, Presentation at Don Bosco Institute, July 2019
Interview with Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, June 2019