Follett Talks
Follett Talks are Zoom-based meetings featuring a guest speaker presentation, a Q&A opportunity, and an open discussion time. They are typically scheduled for Saturday (US time) and will be open to anyone to join. Talks with usually be recorded as well, and recordings will be available on this site. Unless otherwise indicated, all Talks will be from 11 AM-1 PM EST / 4 PM-6 PM GMT.
Upcoming Talks
If you’re interested in joining an upcoming Follett Talk, or if you would like to propose a Talk, please contact info@follettfdn.org for the invitation and link.
March 14, 2026: Self-Determination Theory and the Philosophy of Mary Parker Folleltt. M. Dale Smalley. M. Dale Smalley will present a brief review of a robust theory of human development and well-being called Self-Determination Theory. It has seen consistent empirical support for 25 years, and it also has remarkable practical relevance to education, work, governance, healthcare, and more. Self-Determination Theory rests on the premise that people are inherently disposed to grow and develop better versions of themselves. To that end, they have three enabling needs that must be met:
- Autonomy to follow their intrinsic drives;
- Competence to do what it takes to succeed in their efforts; and
- Relatedness: To be certain they belong with, and matter to, people with whom they identify, respect, and love.
To the extent that MPF’s concepts are oriented toward furthering the inherent capabilities of people in their collective endeavors, then, which ideas of hers have the most relevance to self-determination? How does MPF thinking inform approaches to enable people to make better versions of themselves? And, by succeeding at that, what are the implications for mutual responding and creative experience?
Past Follett Talks and Recordings
November 8, 2025: Democracy is a Verb, not a Noun. Matthew Shapiro, founding director, the Mary Parker Follett Foundation. The presentation includes a review of Follett’s essential insights for the promise of democracy and a description of the mission and program of the Mary Parker Follett Foundation. The presentation is available here. Full recording and passcode below:
Passcode: UxTcDS5&
November 22: Erika Clegg presented on Power With, not Power Over. The presentation shows how how Follett’s ideas find fresh life in modern organizations, building trust, resilience, and performance. Full recording and passcode below:
Passcode: 7k4Sw!7J
December 6: Jim Rough presented on the Wise Democracy Project. The presentation proposes that Wisdom Councils and the Wise Democracy project could help bring to realization Follett’s vision for democracy. Full recording and passcode below:
Passcode: v@aTN36#
January 10: Matthew Shapiro presented on Learning to Create Together: A Participatory Approach to Designing the Civics Education We Need. Learning to Create Together is about engaging communities in the participatory design of civics for their schools, resulting in a civics education experience that transcends the static and in direct civics learning for the community that undertakes the design journey. The presentation is available here.
January 24: Elisabeth Sechser presented The Power of Words – Mary Follett’s Words & Principles. This Follett Talk focused on Mary Parker Follett’s understanding of the power of word, particularly her use of key concepts such as power, control, authority, leadership, and management. Follett did not describe democratic principles in abstract terms — she built them directly into language. Full recording and passcode below:
Passcode: uQ68vQ!R
February 21: Graham Wright presented Persuasion, Integration, and Deliberative Democracy: The Will of the Whole. Full recording and passcode below:
Passcode: DK.3ph%&
The Mary Parker Follett Conversation on Creative Democracy (Fall 2026)
See the Conference page for more information.