How the 2008 Collapse Changed Their Leadership: Bob Neuman and Woody Greenwood

In the fourth quarter of 2008, Bob Neuman and Greg 'Woody' Greenwood were both under real pressure. They met for lunch in January 2009, filled the brown paper on a Ted's Montana Grill table with notes, and landed on a simple shift: serve others first and see what happens. That lunch became the Colorado Thought Leaders Forum, funded by eight people writing $3,000 checks and launched with an economic forecast event for about 250 small business owners.

They talk with Greg Aden about the early partners who stepped up, buying Strategic Connections and rebuilding it after a wave of members left, the heart led leadership Sarah van Rensburg brought as CEO, and the tension of running something that was neither nonprofit nor for profit. Bob also shares how climbing the Grand Teton led him to leave a senior role and start what became Open Space Leadership, and Woody talks about the growth that came with his marriage to Bridget.

Bob Neuman, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Colorado Thought Leaders Forum: https://linkedin.com/in/bob-neuman

Greg 'Woody' Greenwood, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Colorado Thought Leaders Forum: https://linkedin.com/in/greggreenwood

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