Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky: Lessons We can All Learn from an Unexpected Leader

Publisher: St. Martin’s Essential

About the Book

Volodymyr Zelensky captivated the world when his country was invaded by Russia in February 2022. His appearances were accompanied by countless inspiring statements. But there’s a single one that informs Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky: “We are all simple people.”

Jessie Kanzer sees Zelensky as a Spiritual Leader for Our Times. As a native Russian speaker (like Zelensky himself), she picks up on the deep philosophical ramifications behind his words. Rich and yet easy-to-read, the life lessons in Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky are accessible and wise, and are more about starting where you are than about war.

Kanzer herself has a bit part in Zelensky’s life story, acting in one of his movies filmed in the States. She’s a self-described “spiritual nerd” who followed Zelensky long before he stood before a blue and yellow backdrop on the national stage. She writes, “What is so incredible about our man Volodymyr is that his belief in himself stems not from seeing himself as special, but from seeing himself as ordinary and from knowing there is great power in this ordinariness.”

Reviews

“This book not only illustrates a new leadership benchmark, but buoys every “ordinary person,” as President Zelensky calls himself. We see how he leaned into his life and its lessons and how we can as well. Kanzer, herself a Soviet refugee, helps us fully grasp what Zelensky and his people are up against, how those same forces show up in each our lives―and how we can follow Zelensky’s example of courage, faith, and perseverance.“ –Jen Pastiloff, author of National Bestseller, On Being Human

“People tend to look at heroes as unreachable beings way beyond them. But in Unlocking Your Inner Zelensky, Kanzer takes us from admiring the Ukrainian president to being inspired by him in our own lives. She skillfully uses Zelensky’s words and story to show us that we can each be the hero we’ve been yearning for…in fact, that’s what we’re being called to do: to find our Inner Zelensky and run with him!” –Joe De Sena, New York Times bestselling author of Spartan Up!, Spartan Fit!, and The Spartan Way

“Jessie Asya Kanzer beautifully shares Zelenskyy’s message. And her book shows why it’s so valuable, not just for leaders, but for everyday people. The lessons Zelenskyy learned on his life journey are extremely valuable to all of us.” –Serhii Rudenko, Ukrainian journalist, commentator, and author of “Zelensky: A Biography”