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.
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%&
March 14, 2026: Dale Smalley presented Self-Determination Theory and the Philosophy of Mary Parker Follett – a brief review of a robust theory of human development and well-being called Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan), and its potential relevance and relation to Follettian concepts. See presentation here. The presentation and discussion recording can be viewed here:
Passcode: Xaw97%an
March 28, 2026: Matthew Shapiro presented Who Cited Mary? A Preview of the Follett References Research Project. We took at the ever-growing references list from the time of Follett’s life through today, and the intended organization of this list. Some notable citations were highlighted as well. It is hoped that when completed (although in Follettian spirit, it will probably always be expanding), the comprehensive list will be useful to researchers and to those who would like to trace the impact of Follett’s thought. See presentation here. The presentation and discussion recording can be viewed here:
Passcode: 1BDFV#Ji
The Mary Parker Follett Conversation on Creative Democracy (Fall 2026)
See the Conference page for more information.