In Memoriam

My journey with Bryan was full of light and fun, as well as depth and growth. I feel so blessed to have got to know Bryan one on one in a new environment – kind of like one of the definitions of development that resonates for me – doing something you’ve never done with someone you’ve just met. From our adventure in Iceland to our adventures with the DDPN and everything in between, Bryan enlivened my life as a constant delight and surprise. He was a friend, mentor, foil, teacher, peer; integrity embodied. Even now, he accompanies me – albeit not in the way I imagined, as persistent love.

I got to know Bryan in 2019 through Robert Kegan’s work on deliberately developmental organisations and I had the chance to join his emblematic and memorable course on personal self-management.

What impressed me immediately was how deeply Bryan understood that all meaningful transformation must always start with ourselves. “Learning is not development”, he used to say. “Learning is knowledge, development is letting go”.

Like few other leaders, Bryan walked his talk. Before finding in Decurion a place that ”was committed to something more than financial return”, Bryan had spent a year to “read a hundred books” and research for more enlightened ways to do business.

And with all his celebrated achievements, he never stopped searching: with deep humanity, disciplined patience, humble willingness to continually improve himself, and passionate dedication to elevate others. He knew that we could only “wake up” the system if we “develop the capacity of everyone to wake themselves up.”   

As John Quincy Adams once said: ‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.’

Bryan was such a rare, true leader. I deeply regret his passing, yet I shall always remember him for sparking in me and many others a desire to get better, in service of something larger than ourselves.

I worked as security at Decurion where I met Bryan and became very good friends until I retired in 2017.
When we were starting this non profit organisation in 2009, Bryan would give me one hour twice a week mentoring me on how to operate the organisation thousands of miles away at no charge
He was not only teaching me but was also a faithful Donor to the organisation.
An important thing I learnt from him was, it doesn’t matter how much a Donor gives, if he can not agree with your Vision let them go.
I miss his advice and just talking to him
My friend Bryan.

I was fortunate enough to get to know Bryan through the PSM course he ran in early 2020 for the DDPN group. I have to say that from the start, his gentle humour and deep wisdom were equally helpful in helping me navigate the “self-management” work. I’m not sure if it’s also because he recorded the meditations, but I found his voice grounding and will often hear that voice saying things like” be here now”, and that makes me smile.

Bryan held such depth of wisdom about the PSM material, not only because he literally co-wrote the book with Chris Forman, but because he taught the course many many times and above all, he lived it.

He explained things so simply and clearly that I found myself going back and re-watching snippets of the recordings to absorb more. The course has had such an effect on me personally that we were working with Bryan on being able to run it within Avivo. He was backing us all the way and was very keen that we make it our own. His generosity with the material and his support was just so typical of Bryan. I know that he would be delighted to know that the course is up and running and is deeply appreciated. I now consider Bryan as one of the many  “teachers” who share their wisdom with us in the course. He is sorely missed, and yet the work he left behind will live on, in so many and for that I am profoundly grateful.

Back in March of 2021, I attended a TEAL AROUND THE WORLD CONFERENCE- via zoom and happened upon Bryan’s session. And then realized he was associated with Decurion one of the featured companies in Kegan’s An Everyone Culture book ( I had mentioned often in Thrive our Winona Leadership Group ). I was so intrigued by his wise words and deep authenticity I reached out. He was so generous with his counsel and listening and stimulating that we had a half dozen zoom visits before his death. It was such a privilege to be inspired by Bryan.

Working with Bryan at Decurion helped me understand that bringing my whole self to work and showing up honestly, even when it was challenging to do so, was not only embraced and expected, but led to tremendous growth – both for me personally and for the business.