HarperCollins Leadership to Publish Lead Boldly: Seven Principles from Martin Luther King, Jr. With Insights From Robert F. Smith on August 12, 2025

Kevin Smith
kevin.smith@harpercollins.com

Lauren Kingsley
lauren.kingsley@harpercollins.com

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, HarperCollins Leadership announced a new book published in partnership with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Lead Boldly: Seven Principles from Martin Luther King, Jr. with insights from Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. The book will

publish on August 12, 2025.

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Courtesy of HarperCollins Leadership, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus. (Photo: Business Wire)

Lead Boldly includes several of Dr. King’s most memorable speeches. By sharing his personal stories and experiences as a Black man in the U.S., Smith helps contextualize the injustices of which Dr. King spoke of and explores how today’s leaders can nurture more inclusive economies and communities.

It has been over 55 years since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and yet his presence and words continue to influence our culture and impact the lives of millions of people, young and old, of all colors and backgrounds. There is no doubt that he embodied a different kind of leadership in his time and achieved a level of influence few would have thought possible for a Black man born in Atlanta just before the Great Depression.

Now, leaders can reflect on some of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most recognized speeches and be inspired to learn from them and transform their own leadership journeys. Robert F. Smith provides insights and experiences after each speech on how themes like “The Beloved Community,” “Economic Justice,” and “Two Americas” played such a central role in his own leadership journey and why they are so important for leaders to understand today.

Releasing timed to the 62^nd anniversary of the March on Washington, Lead Boldly will explore the influence that Dr. King had on Smith, shaping his perspectives on many of the most significant issues of our time—from racial inequality and economic justice to forging connections with allies and more. Featuring seven of Dr. King’s most influential speeches, Lead Boldly lays a blueprint for how leaders can reflect on Dr. King’s expansive body of work to build more inclusive, just and equitable communities.

“My parents drove my brother and me from our home in Denver, Colorado, to Washington, D.C. to witness the sheer impact of Dr. King’s movement,” said Smith. “Even as a young boy, I understood the power of his words, the inspiration and hope that he left behind, and his transformational impact. Over 60 years later, his speeches continue to be a galvanizing call for anyone seeking to live up to his ideals and build a just and equitable society that works for all. My hope is that Lead Boldly will serve as a reflection point and call to action for leaders striving to fulfill Dr. King’s legacy.”

Lead Boldly will be available on August 12, 2025, in hardcover, ebook and audiobook. You can pre-order today at: https://www.harpercollinsleadership.com/books/lead-boldly/.

ABOUT ROBERT F. SMITH:
Robert F. Smith is an American investor, inventor, engineer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a leading global investment firm that exclusively invests in enterprise software, data and technology-enabled businesses. Throughout his life, Smith has remained committed to the principles of philanthropy and equality, and seeking out pathways to make a difference in communities around the world is a central aspect of his character and approach to life. During his 2019 commencement address at Morehouse College, a Historically Black College, Smith surprised the nearly 400 graduates by pledging to eliminate their student loan debt. Smith later expanded this gift to eliminate the debt held by their parents on their behalf, totaling $34 million. In addition, he is the Chairman of Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) and Carnegie Hall, founding director and President of Fund II Foundation and co-founder of Southern Communities Initiative. In 2017, Forbes listed Smith as one of the 100 Greatest Living Business Minds.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS LEADERSHIP:
HarperCollins Leadership publishes content from leaders who redefine or expand what a reader previously thought possible. Authors provide unique inspiration and experiences to those who seek to learn, make a difference, and find their own version of success.

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