Praise for The Stargazer

"Once in a great while, an author captures your heart and head with poignant lessons about life and leadership. Michael and Katie have scored twice! In their new book The Stargazer, the reader travels through the magic and wonders of the universe while exploring life lessons and reflections on the implications of how vast our potential is for interconnectedness. For educators, the implications for transfer to instructional leadership are significant. A must read for all who wander and wonder."

-Kari Montgomery,
Executive Director of Teaching and Learning

"A captivating read that inspires and serves as a guiding hand for leaders on their journey toward success. Through compelling anecdotes and 'Be mindsets,' The Stargazer encourages readers to reframe their thinking while identifying both areas of strength and areas of potential growth. Most of all, The Stargazer provides leaders with an understanding of how to build their own 'star systems' and lead with a strong network and support system surrounding them. The Stargazer is a must-read for anyone looking to sharpen their leadership skills and build brilliant, shining star teams."

-Liz Elting,
Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, CEO, and Philanthropist

"The Stargazer is a beacon for leaders aspiring to cultivate radiant, high-performing teams. It offers invaluable insights into harnessing the collective brilliance of individuals to achieve extraordinary results. Most importantly, it reminds us that as leaders we must always focus on storytelling and encouraging our teams to also share in these stories because ultimately it is always about the power of We."

-Geoffrey M. Roche,
North America Director, Workforce Development, Siemens Healthineers

"The Stargazer weaves together everything we know about leadership and team development: self-reflection, learning, curiosity, clarity, shared purpose, and more. Nuggets of wisdom and learning are as brilliant and plentiful as the stars themselves."

-Marci Lesko,
CEO, United Way

"Enticing, informing, and motivating.educational but also heartwarming. Introspection, understanding one's own motivations translated into purpose comes alive with a main character who is easy to identify with quickly. The Stargazer translates well known effective principles into digestible and memorable models that help everyone become more effective in his or her professional and personal lives. Enjoy!"

-Dr. Allen Weiss,
Chief Medical Officer, Blue Zones Project

"The Stargazer brilliantly illuminates the path to building brighter, more resilient teams. Through its captivating fable, the book demonstrates how leaders can cultivate an environment of growth, collaboration, and shared purpose. It's a must-read for anyone committed to unleashing the full potential of their team and leading with intentionality and heart."

-Tony Martignetti,
Chief Inspiration Officer, Inspired Purpose Partners, and Author of Campfire Lessons for Leaders

"The Stargazer is a quick but powerful read that will make you stop, reflect, and think. Katie and Michael pull you into a story filled with valuable lessons and insights to help you unite your team. This book is a must-read if you aspire to be a better leader or more supportive teammate."

-Aaron Burton,
CEO, Sciton

"Incorporating stargazing and outdoor experiential learning is brilliant. It's amazing what we can learn about ourselves and others when we disconnect in the outdoors and put ourselves in the present moment, but even more amazing how it positively impacts our personal and professional lives. The COMPASS framework is brilliant and a tool all leaders can leverage to navigate their teams up the trail to their summit of growth and development."

-Dan Carusi,
President, Red Paint Consulting

"There is brilliance in these pages. Desiderio's and Frino's message is profound: As individuals, the lens we choose determines what we see. When we choose to demonstrate care, competence, consistency, and commitment to ourselves and those around us, we build a star system that enables each individual to shine brighter. With the proper mindset, we can achieve personal and organizational growth."

-David Robinson,
EVP, Human Resources and General Counsel, ArtSkills Inc.

"The beauty of nature and the universe holds deep meaning in our lives. In this compelling fable, Katie and Michael gently reveal valuable lessons for every leader. As they guide us on a journey of reconnection with timeless truths, they help us align not only ourselves but also our teams and organizations, like stars in a brilliant constellation. This book is a warm and inspiring guide, lighting the way to more thoughtful, impactful leadership."

-Ximena Duran,
Business Relationship Manager, Grupo GOCA

"Stargazer is not just a beautiful story about the importance of self-discovery; it is about how we can help others shine, appreciate those who help us too, and understand ourselves as a community that can grow and create. It is about building something much bigger by seeing ourselves as a team. Thank you for this fable that teaches us to learn and unlearn. By looking through the stars, we discover how great and bright we can be, and understand the value of the elements that always enrich and nurture us."

-Luis Fernando,
Director of Strategy, Grupo GOCA

"Stargazer could simply be an engaging read. Or, more likely, it subtly layers lesson after lesson for the reader, where the reader can choose to reconsider what it means to grow, to change, to succeed with and through others, and perhaps most importantly, what it means to experience a personal transformation."

-Dr. Bill Schaninger,
Partner, Modern Executive Solutions; Speaker and Author

"The Stargazer is an inspiring leadership fable that beautifully intertwines the wonders of the night sky with the journey of personal and professional growth. Grayce's transformation, guided by her mentor Catherine, is a testament to the power of choosing your lens each day and the importance of having a supportive 'star system' in one's life. The narrative is both engaging and thought-provoking, offering practical lessons on how to cultivate curiosity, resilience, and connectedness. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to ignite their inner brilliance and lead with empathy and innovation."

-Thomas C Murray,
Director of Innovation, Future Ready Schools, ASCD Bestselling Author

"In The Stargazer, Katie Desiderio and Michael Frino, the bestselling authors of The Beekeeper, once again craft a compelling fable that delves into the dynamics of high-functioning teams and the critical roles of key individuals in driving success. Written in a style reminiscent of Patrick Lencioni, Desiderio and Frino narrate the powerful story of Jack, who embarks on a quest for meaning in both his personal life and business endeavors. Through Jack's journey, the authors illustrate how the insights he gains can be applied to corporate team-building retreats. This book is essential reading for any CEO aiming to cultivate a high-performing team."

-Dr. Bryon Grigsby,
President and Professor of English, Moravian College

"The Stargazer masterfully weaves celestial metaphors to illustrate the transformative power of curiosity and learning. Readers will soon find themselves inspired or 'star-kissed,' embracing their 'star system' of friends, colleagues, and mentors as they critically reflect on their own experiences to better navigate life's challenges and uncover profound meaning in every opportunity that comes their way."

-Dr. David Kopp,
Author, Speaker CAMPUS.EDU

"Grayce, a character from the bestselling The Beekeeper, has become a pollinator. She is successfully spreading growth and enlightenment; she is being proximal. Inspired by the 'Be mindsets,' this new fable from Katie and Mike details the leadership journey of a small business owner. Jack learns to embrace the lessons from the stars and the stones to dramatically alter the trajectory of his small winery. An engaging story set in the vineyards and rugged terrain of northern California, this is a natural continuation of the shared leadership lessons that can be learned and adopted by anyone."

-Dr. Larry Ross,
Professor Emeritus, Barnett School of Business, Florida Southern College

"Desiderio and Frino have done it again. Set this time on a corporate retreat, the story expertly exposes us to the secrets of building brilliance through harnessing collective strength. A must-read for all executives and managers who tend to their organization's morale and efficacy. If you liked The Beekeeper, you will love The Stargazer!"

-Michele Demsky,
President and CEO, ArtSkills Inc.

"The use of narrative and fable makes Stargazer's lessons...