Responsible: A Memoir

Dr. Hendel’s absorbing, honest account of her journey through and after a violent, tragic incident that occurred “on her watch” as CEO of a large hospital is a must-read….for administrators, for anyone touched by the myriad ripple-effects of gun violence, for survivors of all kinds of trauma, for mental health professionals, hospital workers, and anyone else who is interested in following her down this difficult road to recovery.As a consumer of memoir, I appreciate how difficult it is to write such a story (especially of trauma/recovery), and I admire how she has shared her story with vivid images and metaphors, fast-moving pace, and accessible language. Her particular story is unique, yet her insights are deep and meaningful for anyone. As a psychologist, I am grateful for the exploration of the many layers and meanings (especially emotional meanings) of “responsible”, how she found her way through being shattered, yet intact, to self-forgiveness and profound discoveries.

I was a medical executive at the hospital where this occurred.Physicians who feel that hospital administrators are only interested in the bottom line should read this story by an outstanding administrator who felt about her hospital just as much as doctors do about their patients.

An inside look at leadership and heartbreak. I have not yet finished reading this memoir, but will not put it down tonight until I do. PTSD is an increasingly common problem in our society and it is comforting to know how one person experienced it and how she recovered from a catastrophic episode in her life. Bravo!

The author takes us on a very personal journey and she profoundly shares her experience as a CEO and what she, her team and her organization goes through in trauma. We learn that it all tests us in ways that are unexpected.I recommend this book for every individual who participates in building cultures that care and those that value responsibility and what it means to be there for each other. This is a timely read while we are in a global crisis. The word responsible can take on entirely new perspectives.From Part I which sets the stage of this personal accounting of a deadly workplace shooting to Part 2 - the after math analysis and impact of this "black swan event" to Part 3 about survivorship and the dangers of holding on and letting go to the final Part titled compassion - this book holds you entirely to the close. There are key leadership principles and it is highly recommended.

Responsible is a riveting read about an onsite workplace shooting of three healthcare professionals, their tragic deaths, and the personal and organizational trauma that resulted. More so it is a book about Leadership. It is about how one CEO led her team and beloved organization through a five-year journey towards recovery. Diana stood for what was right even when it was hard. When pressure mounted, when others wanted to ‘close the gap’, Diana put people first. Diana's “Jim Collins” Level Five great leadership was visible and real. I am grateful to have worked directly for Diana for five years. So much of what she shared with me is part of my leadership toolkit today. As I read Responsible Diana Hendel’s amazing leadership, her incredible qualities came back to me - leaping off the pages. Her clean communication, her ability to build relationships, to connect with others came rushing back. Responsible was hard to put down….moments, memories, lessons….Diana Hendel is a remarkable leader and Responsible is a must read for all executives leading through our volatile and uncertain times and for those that aspire to be executives. She showed me the power of a leader who is able to leverage the talents of many while never compromising her personal values. I rarely post reviews even though I buy plenty of things on Amazon but felt compelled to do so after reading the two reviews that make no sense! This is a memoir and written about her personal experiences as a CEO leading through this tragedy and the subsequent personal impact. We live in a Blame and Cancel Culture so it's not a complete surprise to see the one ridiculous review holding a person accountable for the behavior and decision of an individual she had no control over. Read Responsible and get inspired by the strength of someone who came back to health and vitality from an awful tragedy.

An extremely personal account of leadership during a life-changing experience. I highly recommend.

This memoir tells a difficult and deeply personal story with honesty and accountability. It’s a reminder that you never really know what someone is going through internally. Hard to put down.

There are so many great books on leadership. Responsible: A Memoir takes leadership to another level. Leading in a crisis that you didn't see coming and finding the energy and fortitude to make it to the other side when one could have easily taken a different path. As a leader myself for over 30 years, Responsible gave me a new perspective on the things that are important. The author, Ms. Hendel showed a beautiful, rawness in this book.