When people think of Dag Hammarskjöld, they often picture a solemn figure behind a desk at the United Nations, navigating Cold War tensions with cool precision. But behind the formality was a man of deep feeling, quiet habits, and unexpected quirks. Here are six lesser-known facets of Dag Hammarskjöld’s private life that may surprise you—and […]
6 Things You Didn’t Know About Dag Hammarskjöld Read More »
Episode 22: Happy Birthday, Dag! Featuring an Exclusive Reading from Simply Dag 📖 In this special episode of Decoding the Unicorn, let’s celebrate the 120th birthday of Dag Hammarskjöld, whose remarkable life and legacy continue to inspire us today. Join me as I honor Dag’s birthday by sharing an exclusive passage from my next
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Dag Hammarskjöld and the Summer of Hell: The Congo Crisis and the Mystery of Greenback the Monkey A Summer on Fire In the summer of 1961, the Congo was falling apart—and Dag Hammarskjöld was at the center of the flame. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, Hammarskjöld faced mounting pressure from all sides. The Congo
The Summer of Hell: Dag Hammarskjöld in 1961 Read More »
There’s nothing worse than a manager or an official who’s incapable of saying, “I’m sorry. I screwed up.” Dag Hammarskjöld offers us an excellent example. When it was time for a victory lap, he credited his entire team. If something hit the fan, however, he took responsibility openly. No blame games. If you are running
Episode 21: Take Responsibility – the Right Way! Read More »
When I first started writing Decoding the Unicorn, I had no idea what I was doing. I just knew that I loved every second of it and, at that point, I really didn’t care if anyone else ever saw it. As with Lucy in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, a big part of the fun
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What happens when people feel seen and understood? In this episode of Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast, I’ll discuss something deceptively simple: belonging. Whether you’re managing a corporate team, collaborating on a creative project, or just trying to make it through day-to-day life, the need to feel valued is universal. #DagHammarskjöld #DecodingTheUnicorn #Belonging #Appreciation #CorporateCulture
Episode 20: Appreciation & Belonging (At Work and In Life!) Read More »
Even as he was juggling duties as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjöld practiced a quieter craft: translation. Most people know Hammarskjöld as a diplomat, a thinker, or perhaps a mystic (whatever that means—I plan to explore it in a future project). Few realize that he also worked behind the scenes as a
The Invisible Art: Dag Hammarskjöld’s Work as a Translator Read More »
In a world obsessed with hustle, noise, and nonstop stimulation, what happens when we choose silence? In this episode, I’ll explore the transformative power of quiet and stillness, particularly in politics, diplomacy, and the corporate world. Whether you’re an introvert who craves calm or a busy creative who struggles to slow down, this conversation invites
DTU Podcast Episode 19: The Importance of Quiet and Stillness Read More »
In an age of soundbites and shouting matches, it’s easy to assume that the loudest voice in the room is the most powerful. But not all leadership is about volume. Some of the most enduring change-makers led not with spectacle, but with stillness. Dag Hammarskjöld was one of them. As the second Secretary-General of the
What Dag Hammarskjöld Can Teach Us About Quiet Leadership Read More »
Before he was a UN Secretary-General or a member of the Swedish Academy helping to select literary Nobel Prize winners or a multilingual diplomat who traveled the world, Dag Hammarskjöld was simply a man who loved to feel the earth beneath his feet. A Cathedral Without Walls Nature was never just a backdrop for Dag.
The Outdoors as Sanctuary: Dag Hammarskjöld’s Love of Nature Read More »