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Driven to Build, Guided by Values : Leading for Long-Term Success in the For-Profit and Nonprofit Worlds - Peter Finn

Driven to Build, Guided by Values

Leading for Long-Term Success in the For-Profit and Nonprofit Worlds

By: Peter Finn

Paperback | 16 June 2026

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Peter Finn was always a little different. As a high school senior, he became an ethical vegetarian, took up meditation, and immersed himself in Eastern religions; later, as a long-haired student at Brown University, he fell for a beautiful classmate named Sarah, and the two began dreaming of creating an organic, green-energy farm. Then, as a rising executive in his family's public relations business, Peter began stirring up controversy by advocating an entrepreneurial leadership style and growth through acquisitions that would also require decentralized control.  It became increasingly clear that, somehow, Peter Finn would end up forging a life path all his own.

In the end, Peter shattered expectations not once but twice. First, in 1998, having fallen in love with rural Hunter, New York, Peter and Sarah (now his wife) launched the Catskill Mountain Foundation with the dream of using arts programs-drama, music, dance, movies, and more-to spark economic and social revitalization throughout the region. They started on a shoestring, but over time, through improvisation and daring, sometimes "crazy" opportunism, they forged partnerships with talented people and groups to build one of the most vibrant artistic hubs in the Northeast.

Second, late in 2011, Peter took an even riskier plunge into the unknown. With a handful of like-minded colleagues, he negotiated a separation from the family company to launch a new PR agency built on values ranging from "Work hard and play nice" and "Create a best-place-to-work environment" to "Commit to diversity" and "Make a difference in the world." Today, having won a host of industry awards and honors, FINN Partners has grown to embrace 35 offices with 1,300 employees around the world.

Driven to Build, Guided by Values tells the parallel stories of these two unique organizations, operating in very different spheres yet shaped by the same core beliefs. Leaders in every field will discover valuable lessons about how to build organizations for lasting success in the dramatic, colorful stories that fill the pages of Driven to Build.

Industry Reviews

"The book's overriding message of championing the practice of companies acting in alignment with the best values of their people is genuinely restorative . . . An often inspiring memoir of a PR agency founder."-Kirkus Reviews

"A sincere and pragmatic idealist, Finn's vision stretches beyond profit-and-loss statements, seeking business plans that thrive by creating meaning for himself and those around him. The first-person accounts he shares from colleagues are powerful . . . Finn's unique business model enjoys immense success . . . and readers will be inspired by his determination."-Publishers Weekly BookLife

"Peter Finn's Driven to Build, Guided by Values is a great introduction to how you can accomplish so much in one lifetime. His principles, from 'Work hard, play nice' and 'Be amazing' to 'Make a difference' resonate with mine. In every dance I make, I too work to reinforce a world we all want to live in. Thank you, Peter, for practicing and spreading the word."-Twyla Tharp, choreographer and founder, Twyla Tharp Dance

"Driven to Build, Guided by Values reminds us that true success in business is measured not only by growth, but by the difference we make in people's lives. Peter Finn's story powerfully reminds us that business guided by purpose can create impact far beyond the boardroom."-Michael Weamer, president & CEO, Marfan Foundation

"Peter Finn is a community-centric visionary, and his book is a must-read for anyone devoted to the betterment of a shared and beloved rural setting. You could not have a better guide than Peter Finn."-Chuck Royce, founder, Royce Investment Partners 

"Peter Finn's book on leadership refreshingly stands apart, showing how success for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations grows from a simple core value: attracting the very best people and inspiring them to collaborate, innovate, and create a better world."-Neil Mortine, chairman and CEO, Fahlgren Mortine

"In a time when trust and authenticity have never been in shorter supply or greater demand, Peter Finn's Driven to Build, Guided by Values should be required reading. It's a master class in leading by example, bringing out the best in people through collaboration, and infusing an exemplary life with purpose."-Michael Lasky, Senior Partner, Davis+Gilbert LLP and Board Member, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

"In an industry facing consolidation and dominated by holding companies, Peter Finn has built an outstanding independent firm that proves you don't have to sacrifice your values to succeed. His book shows how he created one of the most successful firms in a highly competitive business, providing a roadmap for values-driven entrepreneurs who care about both people and profits."-Paul Holmes, CEO and editor-in-chief, PRovoke Media

"Read this book for an incredible story of purpose, partnership, and impact-an inspiration and a blueprint for life well-lived."-Kim Sample, president, PR Council

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