Private Film Screening & Panel: Defining Moments: The Life & Leadership of Frances Hesselbein

Join The Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University and the Pitzer Justice Education Center for a private screening of an upcoming documentary based on the groundbreaking work and leadership of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Frances Hesselbein. A true "pioneer for women, volunteerism, diversity, and opportunity,” Hesselbein was one of the most important figures in the leadership movement, where her influence extended from nonprofit management to corporate boards to the U.S. Army. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, for her leadership as CEO of Girl Scouts from 1976--1990, and was later appointed to two Presidential Commissions on National and Community Service. “Defining Moments” shares the extraordinary impact of Hesselbein’s work, while exploring how her ideas can help leaders today safeguard a democracy under threat.

The screening will feature a reception and panel on women in leadership before the film, as well as a discussion with the film producers after. Refreshments will be provided.

This film is open to the Claremont Colleges Community and public. Registration is required. Seating is limited.

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Frances Hesselbein and Peter Drucker enjoyed a long friendship and partnership which began in 1980 with Peter donating one day a month to work with Frances and the Girl Scouts of the USA. In 1990 after Frances left the Girl Scouts, Peter Drucker became the honorary Chairman of the organization Frances co-founded, The Peter F. Drucker Foundation For Non-Profit Management.

We invite you to learn more about this world-changing, impactful partnership captured in the documentary Defining Moments: The Life and Leadership of Quiet Revolutionary Frances Hesselbein.

Defining Moments is a feature-length documentary based upon the groundbreaking life’s work and leadership of Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Frances Hesselbein, a “pioneer for women, volunteerism, diversity, and opportunity.”

Frances Hesselbein started living her purpose of respect for all people at 8 years old. She “died with her boots on” still living her purpose in 2022 at 107 years old.

We are so excited to make Frances’s life and leadership story accessible and known to all people, to young people many of whom do not have positive role models and to people around the world who would love to hear about this young girl who through her love and service became one of the world’s most powerful, respected, and loved leaders of the 20th and 21st Centuries, at Girl Scouts and in the non-profit arena, and in corporate America and the US Military, where she was not the norm but in fact, where she was the anomaly who had the norm at her fingertips.

The world is hungry for inspiring stories about people who may not be well known, who have defied the odds and accomplished so much to benefit all of us, especially women and minorities. Leaders who have fought for equality, who were uncompromising in their dedication to serving all of us, who stood strong under pressure, and as such paved the way for those of us who choose to follow them.

Defining Moments our story of the life and leadership of quiet revolutionary Frances Hesselbein could come at no better time than now.