“Julian Blair Baldwin offers a compelling account of how and from whom he learned to lead. With gripping accounts back to his ancestors and now a parent’s advice to his daughter, To Zuri helps us appreciate what is required of us now and how we can best pass it on.” —Michael Useem, faculty director of the McNulty Leadership Program, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; author, The Leadership Moment

“To Zuri is tender enough to be read as a father’s gift and rigorous enough to be taught. Julian Blair Baldwin makes the case that finding harmony across all domains of life is the foundation of trust, judgment, and lasting legacy.” —Stewart D. Friedman, emeritus practice professor of management, The Wharton School; author, Total Leadership

“So much more than a tender letter from father to daughter, To Zuri is packed with unflinching honesty and hard-won wisdom that serves as a compass for anyone trying to live with integrity, purpose, and resolve. While the stories are deeply personal, the lessons are universal. If you seek to lead with conviction and character in a world that rewards expedience and applause, To Zuri is a must-read.” —Edward Sullivan, CEO, Velocity Coaching; best-selling author of Leading with Heart

“Most leadership books describe the problem. Baldwin hands you the instrument to solve it. The gap between what an organization says and what it does shows up fastest under pressure, and To Zuri is the clearest account I have read of why coherence, holding your values steady across every room, is the rarest advantage a leader actually has. I have built revenue organizations for twenty years, and this is the book I wish I had handed every team I led.” —Craig Lewis, technology sector chief revenue officer with five successful exits, including one IPO

“For anyone who has ever sat at a table they had to fight hidden battles to reach, Julian Baldwin has written the book that gives voice to those struggles. A healthcare executive, a father, and the inheritor of his family’s civil rights legacy, he traces the through-line from the Greensboro lunch counter to his own boardroom reckonings. In the process, he gives his daughter, Zuri, not just his history but a way of standing upright in her own story. This book is a gift, whether you pass it to a family member, a colleague, or yourself.” —Laura Little, VP of product partnerships, Jane App

“Julian’s writing creates a living legacy for his daughter, Zuri, and his clarity of thought provides a universal message to all parents. With a spotlight on the quiet power of generosity, Julian shares the importance of the women in his life, his mother and a neighbor, Ms. Bertha, who taught him that the greatest gift we can give a child is not money or status but the feeling of being truly seen and cherished simply for existing. Overcoming loss and grief, Julian comes into his own, recognizes his own power, and shares compelling life experiences with his beautiful daughter. Julian’s most profound insight may be this: ‘Be the same person in every room, at home and at work, in struggle and in success, because our children are always watching, always learning who to become from who we are.’ That insight sums up the beauty and intensity of this love letter to Zuri.” —Bernadette Birt, retired assistant dean, Kellogg Executive MBA Global Network, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management

“To Zuri is the heartfelt letter every girl dad wishes he had written to his beloved daughter. Baldwin explains that this book is not a map but a compass. I have often said this very thing to my own daughters, but here Baldwin gives permission not only to Zuri but to every reader to break free from systemic and societal restraints and continue boldly in the general direction of their purpose. ‘I cannot wait until the world is safe for you to understand who you are.’ The gift in this thoughtfully crafted love letter is both its urgency and its timelessness. Dear Zuri, the world is certainly yours.” —Jeff Marshall, global chief inclusion and impact officer, Burson; AMA Hall of Famer

“As a public health–trained social and behavioral scientist who has spent more than twenty-five years translating research into innovative products, services, and programs that improve health and well-being, what stands out most to me is Julian’s ability to make complex science accessible without oversimplifying it. Through his open and vulnerable storytelling and the practical ZURI Framework, he transforms research into actionable wisdom. To Zuri shows how a clear sense of self becomes the foundation for coherent leadership and for creating workplaces where health, wellness, and human flourishing can thrive. This is more than a leadership book. It is a guide to living and leading with integrity that I look forward to sharing with my children.” —Robin Anthony Kouyaté, PhD, behavioral science and health innovation leader

“This book is far more than a leadership manual; it is a profound testament to the universal power of parental love and wisdom. Distilled from extraordinary life experiences and built upon a deep reverence for the sacrifices of the generations before him, this is an invaluable road map for the next generation. While Julian illuminates the unique challenges African American leaders face in spaces not originally designed for them, his ultimate message cuts across every boundary of race, culture, and background. It speaks directly to our shared core of humanity. This is a beautiful, urgent guide on how to stand tall under pressure, refuse to compromise your values, and do the right thing when the stakes are highest. It is a masterclass in how we can all help repair and uplift our world with decency, kindness, and courage.” —Julia Oberrotman, head of corporate strategy, Okta

“What begins as a reflection on leadership and legacy becomes a moving exploration of family, loss, forgiveness, fatherhood, and the people who shape us long before we realize it. As a fellow father of a young daughter and a business leader, I was especially struck by Julian’s message of coherence: the idea that our values, actions, and identity should remain aligned across every aspect of our lives. In a world that often rewards fragmentation, To Zuri is a powerful reminder that our greatest legacy is not only what we accomplish but how authentically and coherently we choose to live.” —Christopher Kung, chief digital officer, Zaxbys

“It’s very rare to do what Julian Blair Baldwin did. He built a highly successful executive career in healthcare with a stellar educational background and then intentionally stepped away. His deep reflections on leadership, his family’s journey, and becoming a father are captured in this incredible book, To Zuri: Leadership That Outlives Us. His love for his daughter and hope for her future is anchored with pragmatic and realistic concepts about leadership. The ideas are immediately applicable for anyone, at any career point, and will help you with coherence: aligning your internal truths with consistent, external action no matter the group or issue. I use the key ideas in this book with clients all the time and can't recommend this book enough. Julian nailed it.” —Mike Manoske, PCC, founder, TheCareerCircles.com; executive coach; author; Wharton program leader