Rising from Gound Zero: 9/11 and the FDNY's Path through Crisis to Transformation centers on 90 hours of interviews, principally with FDNY responders to the World Trade Center fires and FDNY leaders in the aftermath.
The book presents their words from the often 2 hour (or longer) interviews. The lessons drawn concern implementing and sustaining organizational change/transformation in an accomplished and proud organization as well as leading in crisis, prolonged hard times, and healing. The structure of the book enables a reader to read it easily as an oral history or as a presentation of lessons for leaders…or as both. Early readers offer ringing endorsements, including Adm. James Stavridis (the former head of NATO), Prof. Mike Useem (Faculty Director of Wharton’s Center for Leadership and Change Management), Annie McKee (co-author of Primal Leadership), Stephen Klasko (former CEO of Jefferson Health), R. Edward Freeman (Bachand University Professor, UVA’s Darden School), and Laura Kavanagh (34th FDNY Commissioner, Ret.).
Rising from Ground Zero: 9/11 and the FDNY's Path through Crisis to Transformation will be released on August 31, 2026. We encourage you to bring a copy of the book! Click here to see what readers are already saying!
For full details, visit www.risingfromgroundzero.org.
About the Author
Gregory Shea, PhD is a Senior Fellow at the Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management. Lead author of Leading Successful Change: 8 Keys to Making Change Work and Your Job Survival Guide. His writing has appeared in Harvard Business Review and the California Management Review. Click here for a full bio.
When:
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm
6:00 PM Wine & Cheese Reception
6:30 PM Program Begins
7:15 PM Q&A
7:30 - 8:00PM Networking
Where:
Midtown location (Note: Address will be sent via email to all registered guests 24-48 hours prior to the event to the "Primary Email" address listed in your profile. Please review your profile to confirm that the email address listed is correct.)
Cost:
WCNY Supporting Members - $26 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton Alumni & Alumni Guests - $52
Gold & Benefactor Members - $0
Pre-registration is required. Please register early as this event will sell out quickly.
Registration is subject to availability and will close on Wednesday, September 2nd at 9:00am.
Cancellations must be made at least 48-hours (business day) prior to the event date by sending an email to Gabriela Sanchez. Refunds or credits for future events are not available for any no-shows or late cancellations. Click here for full details.
The book presents their words from the often 2 hour (or longer) interviews. The lessons drawn concern implementing and sustaining organizational change/transformation in an accomplished and proud organization as well as leading in crisis, prolonged hard times, and healing. The structure of the book enables a reader to read it easily as an oral history or as a presentation of lessons for leaders…or as both. Early readers offer ringing endorsements, including Adm. James Stavridis (the former head of NATO), Prof. Mike Useem (Faculty Director of Wharton’s Center for Leadership and Change Management), Annie McKee (co-author of Primal Leadership), Stephen Klasko (former CEO of Jefferson Health), R. Edward Freeman (Bachand University Professor, UVA’s Darden School), and Laura Kavanagh (34th FDNY Commissioner, Ret.).
Rising from Ground Zero: 9/11 and the FDNY's Path through Crisis to Transformation will be released on August 31, 2026. We encourage you to bring a copy of the book! Click here to see what readers are already saying!
For full details, visit www.risingfromgroundzero.org.
About the Author
Gregory Shea, PhD is a Senior Fellow at the Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management. Lead author of Leading Successful Change: 8 Keys to Making Change Work and Your Job Survival Guide. His writing has appeared in Harvard Business Review and the California Management Review. Click here for a full bio.
When:
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm
6:00 PM Wine & Cheese Reception
6:30 PM Program Begins
7:15 PM Q&A
7:30 - 8:00PM Networking
Where:
Midtown location (Note: Address will be sent via email to all registered guests 24-48 hours prior to the event to the "Primary Email" address listed in your profile. Please review your profile to confirm that the email address listed is correct.)
Cost:
WCNY Supporting Members - $26 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton Alumni & Alumni Guests - $52
Gold & Benefactor Members - $0
Pre-registration is required. Please register early as this event will sell out quickly.
Registration is subject to availability and will close on Wednesday, September 2nd at 9:00am.
Cancellations must be made at least 48-hours (business day) prior to the event date by sending an email to Gabriela Sanchez. Refunds or credits for future events are not available for any no-shows or late cancellations. Click here for full details.