The Beekeeper

Leadership Lessons from the Hive

The BeekeeperPollinating Your Organization for Transformative Growth is a modern leadership fable that follows Catherine, a woman entrepreneur facing the challenges of rapid business growth.By Maureen Harmon

Through unexpected lessons from bees, authors Desiderio and Frino offer practical insights for building stronger teams and better leadership.

  1. EMBRACE THE PLATINUM RULE
    Go beyond the Golden Rule. Effective leaders treat people the way they want to be treated, not the way you prefer. This shift requires empathy, emotional intelligence, and an openness to individual differences.  

  2. FIND A GROWTH PARTNER
    A trusted partner helps you see blind spots, push boundaries, and grow. Mentors, coaches, or peer networks can offer perspective, support, and accountability.

  3. BUILD AN EFFICIENT HIVE
    Like the hexagons in a beehive, organizations thrive on smart design. Streamline systems, break down silos, and create space for collaboration and innovation.

  4. CREATE HIVE HARMONY
    Strong cultures are built on trust, communication, and shared purpose. Empower your team while encouraging unity and inclusion. Everyone plays a vital role, just like in a beehive.

  5. POLLINATE WITH PURPOSE
    Leadership is about connecting ideas, people, and resources. Communication is key. Like bees, leaders must pollinate across networks to fuel growth and resilience.

  6. LEARN TO BE PROXIMAL
    Proximity fosters connection. Open workspaces, strong communication, and mentorship create a culture of learning, feedback, and collaboration.


About the Authors

CASA Staff and Students

Katie P. Desiderio, Ph.D. '09

Katie P. Desiderio is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Beekeeper: Pollinating Your Organization for Transformative Growth. She is a Professor of Management and tenured faculty member at Moravian University and Principal Partner in Learning of Proximal Development, LLC, an authorized DiSC partner. Her work focuses on leadership development and organizational growth, guided by her r2C model of recognize, reflect, and connect. She holds a doctorate in Organizational Learning and Leadership and has co-authored numerous publications on performance and growth.

Michael G. Frino

Michael G. Frino, PH.D. '10

Michael G. Frino is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Beekeeper: Pollinating Your Organization for Transformative Growth. He has over 20 years of experience in sales, leadership, and organizational development across Fortune 500 companies in the payroll, pharmaceutical, and med-tech industries. With a PhD in Organizational Learning and Leadership, he specializes in cultural transformation and performance improvement. His research and writing with Katie P. Desiderio focus on helping organizations achieve transformative growth through people.

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