You Can’t Do It from the Sidelines: Interview with Michele Sullivan, Former President of the Caterpillar Foundation

Several years ago, I interviewed Michele Sullivan, former President of the Caterpillar Foundation and author of the book Looking Up, in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your story and your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. What is something about you that would surprise people? 

Michele: Thank you so much for having me. People always find it surprising that I was twelve years old before I ever saw another little person. Even though my parents would tell me otherwise, I honestly believed that I might be the only one! 

Adam: What inspired you to write Looking Up and what do you hope readers will take away from it? 

Michele: I am so unbelievably humbled by the praise Looking Up has received. I have known for a long time that I would someday write a book that not only told my story but inspired others to lead a life with deeper, more meaningful relationships and impact. I want the words in my book to encourage us to tear down the unnecessary and harmful silos that society places us in and instead find the value in everyone that we meet. Looking up and seeing the value in everyone can literally change our world.

Adam: How did you cultivate relationships with Michael Bloomberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and Bono? And how did you get them to endorse your book?

Michele: Our passion and efforts in social impact brought us all together. We quickly realized that working together was far more effective than siloed pursuits.  We built trust with each other through strategic collaboration, mutual platforming, and support of each other’s work. I’m proud to call them friends and colleagues in making a difference for our world.  I think it’s vitally important for all of us to contribute what we can towards doing good. 

Adam: How did you get here? What experiences have been most instrumental to your personal and professional growth? 

Michele: I got here by recognizing at a young age that in order to live a successful, fulfilling life, I needed to look up and lean on others because of the immense value they were investing in my life.  Physically, I didn’t have a choice in the matter due to my small stature, but once I realized the power of doing so in my personal and professional growth, I found my path forward to success. I pursued an advanced degree and a career with the largest earth-moving manufacturer in the world, Caterpillar. Due to my success in the company, I was chosen to take the helm of the Caterpillar Foundation where I was really able to spread my wings and change millions of lives through our work.  I’ve been fortunate to have a big village of people who have helped me my whole life.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level? 

Michele: Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, and other world-changers didn’t reach their accomplishments because they were good at judging character. They changed the world because they saw beyond stereotypes and snap judgments to the astounding value in every person. They were actually good at judging possibility. They were so amazed by the potential they could see in others that they fought for individual value to their own detriment, and they taught others to do the same. In some instances, they taught entire countries to see differently. Today’s leaders have the selfless courage to move toward people unlike them, people they don’t know, even people who evoke a sense of anxiety or fear and see the value in them, even if they can’t see it themselves.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders? 

Michele: 1. Ask for help. It is a strength, not a weakness. 

2. If you want to put a dent on the suffering in the world and if you truly want to elevate those around you, you can’t do it from the sidelines. Get involved.  Do something.

3. Choose intimacy over influence. Impact on others doesn’t happen from a distance. It isn’t based on hierarchy or position. Proximity matters. Relationships matter.

Adam: What should leaders understand about corporate social responsibility? 

Michele: We all want to live in a better world. We also have the responsibility to make an impact in the world.  In order to create monumental and sustainable change we must dovetail business advancement with human and environmental progress.  ROI applies not only to the business but also to the impact on people and our planet. Business advancement is not sustainable if people are not advancing. 

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received? 

Michele: The world is waiting for you. Run!

Adam: How can anyone pay it forward?

Michele: Elevate and impact others, especially those who are underserved.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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