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“Partnering” by Jean Oelwang

Tangible lessons from 65+ of the world's most remarkable partnerships.

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Partnering
by Jean Oelwang

How to forge deep connections that make
great things happen.

Order now

This book is part of a not-for-profit initiative, Plus Wonder, inspiring a movement of deep connections for better lives, better businesses and a better world.

100% of proceeds from the book will go to scaling this movement and to charities chosen by the partners who have shared their wisdom.

“I enjoyed the framing of this book, the idea that if you get everything right 1 + 1 = 1,000,000+. Diving into best practices for forming and sustaining partnerships is, with this framing, a worthwhile endeavour. I enjoyed the stories of great partnerships.”

Goodreads review

“Rarely does a book so profoundly and deeply impact me. I have taken extensive notes and am still processing so many of the concepts. I will be speaking about this book and its core concepts for years to come. Thank you. Your work and vision is a blessing.”

Casey Hill, LinkedIn

“A great book to strongly highlight there are people, partnerships already existing to create a better world. Identifying the values we must practice and share for others to do the same. This book should be read to our children.”

Amazon book review

“This is an amazing and hopeful book. In part, packed with some incredible fly-on-the-wall stories of some of the world’s most inspiring leaders, and also a powerful rally call for us all to re-think our concepts of success beyond a narrow individual framework and integrate partnerships and community into the core of our daily personal and work lives. At a time when hope can seem a little thin on the ground, this is an absolute must-read.”

Amazon book review

“This was a phenomenal book. I devoured it. I learned so much about the value of good partnerships and even areas where I need to do more work in support of my own partnerships. More than that though I enjoyed the stories! It was fun, entertaining and endearing.”

Racquel Moses

“Partnering captures the magic of our partnership, and many others. One plus one = more done and more fun.”

Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel

“Our partnership of over 66 years has made us who we are in this world and helped us to weather the atrocities of apartheid. Because of each other, our lives have been filled with love, joy, and meaning. In Partnering, Jean brings to life the true spirit of Ubuntu.”

Archbishop and Leah Tutu

“Our 75 year marriage has been the most important thing in our lives. Partnering highlights the secrets of enduring partnerships like ours.”

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter

“If you want to do something bigger, something meaningful for others, read Partnering.”

Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield

“Great relationships are the wellspring of happiness at home, success at work, and wisdom in life. Jean Oelwang is remarkably gifted at building them—she’s worked closely with many of the most dynamic duos of our time. Her book is filled with uplifting stories and practical takeaways for building stronger partnerships.”

Adam Grant

This book came at just the right time for me as an entrepreneur. I’ve read it 3 times now. There are so many nuggets of wisdom that I will be using in all aspects of my life! Thanks for writing it.

Posie Fields, Instagram

Jean, I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying your book. I oversee a non-profit and your insight has switched on a lightbulb in my brain. Thank you!

KM Caskill, Instagram

Some of the most successful people in the world all have a secret power – their partnerships. 

Jean Oelwang
Cofounder Plus Wonder, President
and Founding CEO of Virgin Unite
Book to speak

It’s not their technical skills or experiences that matter most, it is their ability to partner: to forge deep connections.

As the President and founding CEO of Virgin Unite and the co-founder of Plus Wonder, Jean Oelwang has had a ringside seat to remarkable people and has learned how they build deep business and personal relationships. 

Jean has spent over 15 years working with some of the world’s greatest partnerships like Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, Archbishop Desmond and Leah Tutu, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Ben and Jerry, and the cofounders of AirBnB, all of whom, due to their partnerships, learned to become better versions of themselves, which directly multiplied their positive impact on the world.

In Partnering, Oelwang illuminates the core thread that weaves through sixty extraordinary partnerships and collaborations. Remarkably, these six elegant principles are common to meaningful partnerships of all types: friends, family, business, and romantic. They are also at the center of most great human collaborations.

“If you want to do something bigger, something meaningful for others, read Partnering. There is nothing more important than friendship. It was one of the secrets to the growth of Ben & Jerry’s – and it brings great joy, love, adventure, and meaning into our lives.”

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield

“Partnering inspires us to reimagine our disconnected and divided world for the better. A practical blueprint for meaningful connections and successful collaborations based on wisdom from leaders like President and Rosalynn Carter, Archbishop and Leah Tutu, and the community who discovered and helped close the ozone hole. We really are who we are through the people we surround ourselves with. This book reveals how we can nurture those important connections.”

Mary Robinson

“Great relationships are the wellspring of happiness at home, success at work, and wisdom in life. Jean Oelwang is remarkably gifted at building them—she’s worked closely with many of the most dynamic duos of our time. Her book is filled with uplifting stories and practical takeaways for building stronger partnerships.”

Adam Grant

“Building relationships across divides has never been more important. Partnering gives an insider view from people who have forged these critical partnerships across political, religious, cultural, and so many other differences that need to be bridged. A critical read for anyone who wants to live a meaningful life and wants to make a positive difference through collaboration.”

Van Jones

“Our 75-year marriage has been the most important thing in our lives. Partnering highlights the secrets of enduring partnerships like ours.”

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter

“Effective relationships are critical to doing almost anything of real importance in the world – and this is even truer in our interdependent age. Partnering captures wisdom and insights from many types of partnerships and provides a master class in staying all-in, turning difficult moments into deeper connections, and ultimately ensuring that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Jacqueline Novagratz

“Our partnership of over 66 years has made us who we are in this world and helped us to weather the atrocities of apartheid. Because of each other, our lives have been filled with love, joy, and meaning. In Partnering, Jean brings to life the true spirit of Ubuntu.”

Archbishop Desmond and Leah Tutu

“The relationships in our lives are one of the key ingredients to thriving in this world. Partnering reveals how we can nurture these essential connections. An important book for a disconnected world.”

Arianna Huffington

“The Elders was born out of a partnership, a friendship, and a shared vision. It’s amazing what you can get done when you share your dreams. Partnering captures the magic of our partnership, and many others. One plus one = more done and more fun.”

Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel

“Our success is dependent on each other. Humanity’s quest towards hyper-individualism has led us to disconnected, unhappy, and unfulfilling lives. Partnering is a spark of hope and a guide for a relationship reset in the world. Reconnecting us to what’s important – each other.”

Wade Davis and Carroll Dunham

“To solve the loneliness crisis, which is now more serious than ever, we need to learn how to connect with each other. Partnering is a great guide for anyone who wants to invest in deep connections for a healthier, happier, and longer life.”

Julianne Holt-Lunstad PhD

“From tackling climate change to bridging inequality and building inclusive, thriving economies, humanity’s greatest challenges demand bold new partnerships and collaborations. Jean Oelwang teaches us how to find each other, and this is a huge asset in building meaningful lives. Partnering is not only a tremendous read, it’s an urgent manifesto for our time and for building a better shared future.”

Paul Polman

In this book you’ll find daily rituals for staying connected, practical tools for disagreeing respectfully,  virtues that deepen your relationship, and a blueprint for expanding small partnerships into large-scale collaborations. 

Partnering is a refreshing antidote to a disconnected and divided world. It is the answer to how we can increase depth and meaning in all of our most important relationships.

Get the Book

“Partnering” by Jean Oelwang
Forge the Deep Connections that make great things happen.

Get the Book