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Choosing to Lead Against the Current: The Courageous Operating System for Changemakers--Empowering leaders to transform the world with integrity, impact, and purpose
This is the blueprint we need to lead with audacity, transform oppression into power, and ignite a future rooted in collective liberation. —Lateefah Simon, US Congress member and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow
Heart-centered tools for social change leaders to foster courage, keep momentum, and manage burnout
In the face of complex challenges, capable leaders need more than a simple box of leadership tools. They need an internal system of leadership, a tested operating system to help them navigate successfully through forces of oppression, while staying connected to their purpose, values, and vision.
In Choosing to Lead Against the Current , award-winning movement leader, social change strategist, and executive director Eveline Shen shares her Courageous Operating System, a revolutionary system designed to help positive transformation leaders cultivate their power, sustain themselves both mentally and physically, and create lasting conditions for success.
With inspiring stories and case-studies drawn from her own experiences, as well as, from her work with other change leaders, topics include how
Turn encounters with adversity into sources of strengthRedefine success on one’s own termsBuild creative momentum against forces of oppressionTransform failures into progressPrioritize short and long-term self-care
Shen’s system has been taught to leaders in over 200 organizations across the U.S. and global South. It’s holistic in nature, with different elements designed to work as one. Choosing to Lead Against the Current takes readers through the system's components, with exercises at the end of each chapter to help integrate them into any leadership style.
Shen’s offering teaches anyone leading against the current how to harness their full leadership power to build a future that values the liberation of all people and life on this planet.
Heart-centered tools for social change leaders to foster courage, keep momentum, and manage burnout
In the face of complex challenges, capable leaders need more than a simple box of leadership tools. They need an internal system of leadership, a tested operating system to help them navigate successfully through forces of oppression, while staying connected to their purpose, values, and vision.
In Choosing to Lead Against the Current , award-winning movement leader, social change strategist, and executive director Eveline Shen shares her Courageous Operating System, a revolutionary system designed to help positive transformation leaders cultivate their power, sustain themselves both mentally and physically, and create lasting conditions for success.
With inspiring stories and case-studies drawn from her own experiences, as well as, from her work with other change leaders, topics include how
Turn encounters with adversity into sources of strengthRedefine success on one’s own termsBuild creative momentum against forces of oppressionTransform failures into progressPrioritize short and long-term self-care
Shen’s system has been taught to leaders in over 200 organizations across the U.S. and global South. It’s holistic in nature, with different elements designed to work as one. Choosing to Lead Against the Current takes readers through the system's components, with exercises at the end of each chapter to help integrate them into any leadership style.
Shen’s offering teaches anyone leading against the current how to harness their full leadership power to build a future that values the liberation of all people and life on this planet.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2025
6 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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June 1, 2025
Review of Choosing to Lead Against the Current: The Courageous Operating System for Changemakers - From the Perspective of a Public Health Practitioner
Eveline Shen’s Choosing to Lead Against the Current is a powerful manifesto for leaders committed to transformative change—particularly those of us in public health, where systemic inequities demand bold, unconventional approaches. As I read, I found myself nodding in recognition at the challenges Shen describes, while also feeling reinvigorated by her vision of leadership rooted in courage, integrity, and deep purpose.
Emotional Resonance: A Call to Courage
This book struck a deep chord with me as a public health professional. Shen’s discussion of the isolation and resistance that often accompany leadership in marginalized communities mirrored my own experiences advocating for health equity. There were moments when her words felt like a direct affirmation—especially her insistence that real change requires disrupting the status quo, even when it means facing discomfort or backlash.
I also appreciated her emphasis on collective leadership rather than hero narratives. Too often, public health glorifies individual changemakers while undervaluing the community partnerships that drive sustainable impact. Shen’s framework validates the quieter, collaborative work that defines so much of public health practice.
Key Insights for Public Health Leaders
Leading with Integrity in Broken Systems: Shen’s concept of the “courageous operating system” resonates with public health’s ethical dilemmas—whether it’s challenging underfunded mandates or pushing back against policies that harm vulnerable populations.
Centering Community Wisdom: Her approach aligns with asset-based community development, a cornerstone of effective public health work. The book reinforces that those closest to the problems often hold the most transformative solutions.
Sustainable Activism: As burnout plagues our field, Shen’s strategies for resilience—rooted in purpose rather than perfection—offer a lifeline for practitioners navigating exhaustion and moral injury.
Constructive Criticism
While deeply inspiring, I found myself wishing for:
Deeper engagement with systemic barriers: Shen acknowledges institutional resistance, but I craved more tactical advice for navigating bureaucratic inertia in government and healthcare systems.
Final Thoughts
Choosing to Lead Against the Current is a must-read for public health leaders weary of superficial reforms and ready to embrace bolder, more authentic approaches. Shen doesn’t just diagnose leadership challenges—she equips readers with the mindset and tools to lead with conviction in our deeply unequal world.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – A galvanizing read that balances inspiration with actionable wisdom.
Gratitude: Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the complimentary review copy. This book arrived at a time when many in public health are questioning traditional models of leadership, and Shen’s vision offers both affirmation and a path forward.
Eveline Shen’s Choosing to Lead Against the Current is a powerful manifesto for leaders committed to transformative change—particularly those of us in public health, where systemic inequities demand bold, unconventional approaches. As I read, I found myself nodding in recognition at the challenges Shen describes, while also feeling reinvigorated by her vision of leadership rooted in courage, integrity, and deep purpose.
Emotional Resonance: A Call to Courage
This book struck a deep chord with me as a public health professional. Shen’s discussion of the isolation and resistance that often accompany leadership in marginalized communities mirrored my own experiences advocating for health equity. There were moments when her words felt like a direct affirmation—especially her insistence that real change requires disrupting the status quo, even when it means facing discomfort or backlash.
I also appreciated her emphasis on collective leadership rather than hero narratives. Too often, public health glorifies individual changemakers while undervaluing the community partnerships that drive sustainable impact. Shen’s framework validates the quieter, collaborative work that defines so much of public health practice.
Key Insights for Public Health Leaders
Leading with Integrity in Broken Systems: Shen’s concept of the “courageous operating system” resonates with public health’s ethical dilemmas—whether it’s challenging underfunded mandates or pushing back against policies that harm vulnerable populations.
Centering Community Wisdom: Her approach aligns with asset-based community development, a cornerstone of effective public health work. The book reinforces that those closest to the problems often hold the most transformative solutions.
Sustainable Activism: As burnout plagues our field, Shen’s strategies for resilience—rooted in purpose rather than perfection—offer a lifeline for practitioners navigating exhaustion and moral injury.
Constructive Criticism
While deeply inspiring, I found myself wishing for:
Deeper engagement with systemic barriers: Shen acknowledges institutional resistance, but I craved more tactical advice for navigating bureaucratic inertia in government and healthcare systems.
Final Thoughts
Choosing to Lead Against the Current is a must-read for public health leaders weary of superficial reforms and ready to embrace bolder, more authentic approaches. Shen doesn’t just diagnose leadership challenges—she equips readers with the mindset and tools to lead with conviction in our deeply unequal world.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – A galvanizing read that balances inspiration with actionable wisdom.
Gratitude: Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the complimentary review copy. This book arrived at a time when many in public health are questioning traditional models of leadership, and Shen’s vision offers both affirmation and a path forward.
Displaying 1 of 1 review