Global Odyssey Logbooks
Sharing leadership development training resources for personal and organizational growth.
A Distinctive, Personal Perspective on an Arc of Canadian History
Don Simpson’s driving intent has been to explore the world – both the physical world with its wonderfully diverse communities, and the world of ideas that he has come to know as being equally diverse. For more than six decades the Chief Explorer has wandered the world, seeking breakthrough ideas and the people behind them.
The stories of these travels have been captured in 15 Logbooks and serve as valuable resource for leadership development training. Varying in length from 10-60 pages, each LogBook has its own sub-theme and consists of several Excerpts, which can be read individually or as a complete book. Regardless of which LogBook you read, a common thread is the idea that in a period of dramatic change – such as the one we’ve been experiencing in recent years – leadership development training for implementing transformational changes is critical.
The LogBooks are not intended to be seen as an academic document; the stories are built around Don’s personal experiences. However, they are placed in the context of Canada’s journey from colony to contributor, as we stepped out from behind the influence of Great Britain and began to develop different types of relationships with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America and became a destination for immigrants.The stories also address two other significant themes in the evolution of Canada: the efforts by Aboriginals in Canada to gain widespread acceptance and support for their distinct position and Canada’s evolution from a society in which official racism was quietly but effectively embedded in government policies to an official multicultural society—a remarkable journey.
LogBooks: Learning and Leadership Stories from A Global Odyssey
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LogBook 1: Excerpts 1 to 7
The Making of a Chief Explorer
Provides overarching context about the environment, individuals and events that helped shape Don’s life as an explorer.
LogBook 2: Excerpts 8 to 16
A Young Teacher Dreams of Africa and Finds a Purpose
Covers Don’s time helping to form African Students Foundation nationally and Operations Crossroads Africa in Canada.
LogBook 3: Excerpts 17 to 23
Coming to Grips with the Roots of Racism
Highlights an ongoing journey to understand the roots of racism using Africville and the Sir George Williams affair as specific examples.
LogBook 4: Excerpts 24 to 28
What is Canadian? The Long Journey to Multiculturalism
Provides insights into Canadian history to better understand present state and confusing views on multiculturalism today.
LogBook 5: Excerpts 29 to 36
The CUSO Story in the 1960’s
Covers the creation of Canadian University Students Overseas (CUSO) and insights on political and economic development in Chana, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
LogBook 6: Excerpts 37 to 43
Educating Canadians About Third World Cultures
Covers Don’s role in Adult Education in Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and development of the Cross-Cultural Learner Centre at University of Western Ontario.
LogBook 7: Excerpts 44 to 54
From Colony to Contributor – Canada’s Role in International Development
Don shares learnings from the birth of the IDRC and his role in the Global Education program within the Social Sciences Division for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Carribbean.
LogBook 8: Excerpts 52 to 59
Discovering the Fourth World in Canada
Describes a variety of mentoring assignments Don undertook with First Nations groups, including efforts to transform education and local economic practices in the Northwest Territories.
LogBook 9: Excerpts 60 to 68
From Educator to Entrepreneur
Covers how Don applies cross-cultural learnings to develop the Canada-Africa Business Advisory group and eventually sets up two consulting businesses: Kanchar and Salasan.
LogBook 10: Excerpts 69 to 80
My Journey to the College in the Mountains
Shares learning and leadership stories during Don’s time as Vice President at the Banff Centre, helping to globalize the Centre’s Management Centre.
LogBook 11: Excerpts 81 to 91
The Innovation Expedition is Born
Tells how Triple i partners with Axia NetMedia and how testing a breakthrough solution to a complex challenge marks the beginning of the Innovation Expedition.
LogBook 12: Excerpts 92 to 100
Creating the Challenge Dialogue System (CDS)™
Outlines the story behind the Challenge Dialgoue System and how a core team organizes principles, processes and tools into a comprehensive flexible performance improvement system.
LogBook 13: Excerpts 101 to 110
Our Distinctive Mentoring Approach
Describes the attributes of the mentoring developed by Don and the Innovation Expedition team and the way they drew on others to help them create their distinctive approach.
LogBook 14: Excerpts 111 to 126
The 25 Year Journey to Renaissance Leadership
Provides the story of the team’s 25 year journey to integrate the best of their learning into the concept of a modern day Renaissance and the need to nurture the development of more Renaissance leaders.
LogBook 15: Excerpts 127 to 131
Reflections of a Cross-Cultural Explorer
Covers Don’s reflections on his journey to date and looks forward to what he describes as “his real life’s work“ as a full-time storyteller, continuing his personal Expedition to identify, connect, mentor and promote the breakthrough innovations of a select group of Renaissance Pathfinders and Artistic Instigators.