???ONE??? is a book of stories about amazing individuals and organizations who understand how people, actions, thoughts and relationships are all interconnected with the larger world???how we are all ONE. Among the many stories told, is one about Dave Mowat, the CEO of Vancity (www.vancity.com), Canada’s largest and most successful Credit Union (thrift). Dave is an unusual leader whom I have known and worked with for many years. He loves people. He listens to hear, and he listens to make sure people feel loved and heard. He listens so that he can take action on what he hears. Shortly after becoming CEO of Vancity, he initiated a process requiring all the senior executives in the company to visit all of the local branches and head office each quarter to listen in the same way he does. This is how he achieves a consistent culture at Vancity. He bends the rules to the needs of employees and praises failure when it is part of learning. He makes fun of himself, has no airs or pretensions, is humble, vulnerable, and fearless. His love for people, his work, his family, and his community are worn openly and unapologetically. He views all of the parts and the people in his life as one???and loves them all. Last year, Vancity was voted the best company to work for in Canada (according to Maclean’s Magazine) and for the third year, Vancity has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers by Maclean’s Magazine (Maclean’s did not rank the winners in the 2006 survey), and has been chosen as one of the Financial Post’s 10 Best Companies to Work for 2006. Vancity was also chosen as having one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures of 2005 according to Canadian Business magazine. Says Dave Mowat, ???We’re thrilled to be recognized as a top company. Our employees go flat out to make us stand out as an organization. They care about providing great service to our members. They use their skills to make our communities better. This is a passion that you can’t bottle or buy.??? Hats off to Dave and his amazing team who are one with each other, their customers, their suppliers, their community and the planet???Vancity even provides hybrids for executives to drive! We are proud to tell the Vancity story in ???ONE??? and we’ll be hearing even more about Vancity when ???ONE??? is released in 2006!