User:SuRockOD/sandbox

Jonathan Raymond (born October 17th, 1972) is an American leadership coach, CEO, and author primarily known for his book, Good Authority. He is the Founder and CEO of Refound, a leadership coaching company. Raymond’s approach to leadership combines his interest in philosophy with training in personal, psychological, and spiritual development traditions.

Early Life and Education
Jonathan Raymond was born in Long Island, New York, in 1972. He pursued his BA in Philosophy from Binghamton University in 1994. Driven by a fascination with the complexity and intellectual challenge of law, he earned his JD from the New York University School of Law in 1998. Raymond was captivated by the nuances and intricacies of Constitutional Law, Property Law, and Tax law, seeing them as windows into the human psyche and why we behave the way we do.

Despite his academic achievements, however, Raymond found himself deeply unhappy with the career trajectory he was on. He realized that the outer complexities of business and law often overlooked the inner world of the individuals involved. This led him to delve into Eastern spiritual practices. He devoted ten years to in-depth studies in meditation practice, yoga, hakomi, and insight meditation, determined to understand their essence and feeling it was a secret he needed to grasp. These rigorous studies offered him a holistic perspective on personal development, which later became an integral part of his work philosophy.

Career
Jonathan’s early career spanned various industries, including renewable energy, software, and executive coaching. His journey in law, complemented by deep training in Eastern practices and therapeutic techniques, directed him towards blending professional and personal development.

Becoming the CEO of eMyth in 2011, Jonathan saw this opportunity to work at the intersection of personal and business growth. He believed that there was an opening in the world to talk about psychology, personal development, wellness, and spirituality in a professional context that wasn’t in conflict with having a successful business but, approached the right way, was perfectly in line with it.

This realization and his experiences at eMyth became the driving force behind Good Authority. The motivation to pen down his thoughts and insights led Jonathan Raymond to leave eMyth in 2015, paving the path for his new venture, Refound.

Refound’s approach is based on Raymond’s belief that personal growth and business growth can not and should not be separated, and that by focusing on the inner world of individuals, we can create more successful and fulfilling organizations. As the CEO of Refound, Raymond’s efforts revolve around cultivating a culture of accountability and self-improvement within rapidly growing companies.

Notable Publications
Raymond’s eminent work, Good Authority: How to Become the Leader Your Team is Waiting For, was first published in 2016 by IdeaPress Publishing. Addressing the evolving dynamics of leadership, the book underscores the pivotal roles of accountability, personal evolution, and efficacious communication. It serves as a manual, offering readers tangible steps towards transforming their leadership techniques, while advocating for equilibrium between authority and compassion.

Good Authority by Jonathan Raymond was well-received and won the Axiom Awards Silver Medal in 2018. Moreover, its essence resonated among experts and leadership aficionados:


 * Jay Baer, President of Convince & Convert and author of Hug Your Haters: How to Embrace Complaints and Keep Your Customers, described it as a powerful, personal, persuasive guide to becoming a better leader in the modern, digital age.
 * Jonathan Becher, Chief Digital Officer at SAP, commended its nuanced perspective on employee engagement.
 * Brand strategist and author, Bernadette Jiwa, underscored Raymond’s sincere leadership journey.
 * Best-selling author Michael Port extolled the book’s insights into enhancing company culture and leadership.
 * Seth Godin, entrepreneur, marketing expert, and author of Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? called Raymond’s book a modern classing, which redefines what it means to be the boss.

The book has received favorable reviews from readers as well and has distributed over 60,000 copies.

Coaching and Speaking Engagements
Over the years, Raymond has engaged in numerous online teaching sessions and has been a speaker at several significant events. Some of his notable speaking engagements include presentations at The Culture Conference, Small Giants Summit , and the ELC Annual Summit. He remains an active presence in numerous conventions and podcasts, including the LEADx Leadership Podcast, which was featured in Forbes magazine in 2017.

Volunteering
Raymond was a co-founder and instructor with a non-profit project called the Mind Body Awareness Project, which aims to introduce meditation to juvenile hall inmates. At the time, he worked with at-risk and incarcerated youth around the San Francisco Bay Area, teaching them awareness and other anger management practices. Raymond no longer runs this initiative, but it continues to actively operate and support the Bay Area community.

Currently, Jonathan serves as an advisor to Un Mar de Colores, a non-profit dedicated to promoting inclusivity, diversity, and ocean stewardship through surf therapy, environmental education, and mentorship for children of color and underserved youth.

Honors and Recognitions
In addition to the Axiom Business Book Award, Jonathan Raymond was conferred with the honor of Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Leadership Speaker in 2018.