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Circles of Collaboration
by Christine Merser & Leslie Grossman
What if the opposite of leader was collaborator?
For centuries, women have gathered in circles, where every voice matters, decisions are shared, and progress is made together. Circles of Collaboration explores this time-tested method, tracing its history and revealing how you can harness its power to achieve your goals faster and with a stronger, more supportive network. Circles of Collaboration gives you the blueprint—practical tools, real-world examples, and the inspiration you need to build your own collaborative circle to achieve your vision.
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Podcasts Featuring Circles of Collaboration
Ecocentrism and Collaboration
with Dr. Ina Gjikondi, Director of Learning Innovation & Strategic Growth at the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (CEPL) at GWU
Dr. Ina Gjikondi introduces the concept of ecocentrism, the belief that nature is not just a backdrop but an active collaborator with wisdom to share. In conversation with Christine Merser, co-author of Circles of Collaboration, she shows how the practice of circles—where every voice matters and progress is made together—can extend beyond people to include the natural world. She brings fresh insight into how we can work, connect, and solve problems in partnership with both one another and the earth itself.
How to Do the Ask
with Patrice Tanaka, founder of Joyful Planet
For the launch of Apricity Publishing's Circles of Collaboration by Christine Merser and Leslie Grossman, PR powerhouse Patrice Tanaka of Joyful Planet joins Christine for a conversation. Their focus? Two pivotal chapters: Do the Ask and Quid Pro Quo.
Articles Featuring Circles of Collaboration
Why Circles of Collaboration Now, The Return of Ancient Wisdom in Modern Workplaces
"Eventually, I realized that my best moments, my most effective, creative, energizing moments, aren’t about leading from the front or falling in line behind someone else. They’re about sitting in a circle. Collaborating. Co-creating. That’s where I come alive. That’s where I see others shine as well."
- Christine Merser
That’s the vision Christine Merser brings to life in Circles of Collaboration.
Years in the making, this book challenges traditional leadership models and offers a new blueprint, one built not from the top down, but side by side.
Why The Myth Of The One Perfect Mentor Is Holding Women Back (reprinted from COMMPRO)
“If 63% of women never get that mentor and say it damaged their ability to succeed, maybe it’s time to stop blaming ourselves and start changing the story.” – Leslie Grossman
For decades, women have been told to find the mentor, the powerful individual who will open doors, offer wisdom, and smooth the path upward. But what happens when that mentor never comes?
In her latest piece, Leslie Grossman unpacks why the one-on-one mentorship model is failing so many women, and why the pressure to find a single guide is not just outdated, but harmful. The data shows the gap. The stories show the frustration. And the solution, Leslie argues, isn’t about chasing the mythical mentor. It’s about building something bigger.
Circles of collaboration, diverse and intentional groups of people who support, challenge, and open doors for each other, offer a model that’s more honest, more effective, and more enduring.
This is mentorship reimagined: not one voice, but many. Not dependency, but reciprocity. Not waiting for an invitation, but creating your own circle of power.
When Collaboration Implodes
"OceanGate wasn’t just a tragedy. It was a case study in what happens when collaboration dies. When a circle becomes a silo. When power is concentrated in one person’s hands and everyone else is told to stay quiet or get out." - Christine Merser
Christine Merser shares what the OceanGate submersible disaster can teach us about the power, and the fragility, of true collaboration. What started as an exciting, purpose-driven project fell apart when one person’s need for control replaced open dialogue and mutual respect. It’s a stark reminder that real progress happens in circles, not hierarchies, and when we stop listening to each other, the cost can be devastating.
No More Boards of Directors? Making the Case for A New Paradigm.
“True collaboration, bringing in outsiders with expertise, honesty, and courage, serves both companies and nonprofits far better than the outdated board structure most still cling to.” - Christine Merser
For years, women have been told that a seat on a corporate board is the ultimate symbol of power and progress. But what if the boardroom itself is broken?
In her latest piece, Christine Merser challenges the myth of the board seat as a path to real influence and explores why the system isn’t just slow to change, but structurally incapable of delivering the accountability, innovation, and moral courage we need.
It’s not about representation. It’s about architecture.
The full piece dives into the data, the dysfunction, and a better model: circles of collaboration—Christine’s vision for a more honest, effective, and human-centered approach to leadership