Author Archives: Rusty Rueff

About Rusty Rueff

Rusty Rueff, author of purposed worKING. Rusty Rueff is the former Chairman Emeritus of The GRAMMY Foundation in Los Angeles. He most recently completed the successful 16 month leadership role as Coordinating National Co-Chair for Technology for Obama (T4O) for the reelection of President Obama and ten-years of Board service and President of the Board of Trustees of the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Corporately, most recently Rueff was the Chief Executive Officer at SNOCAP, Inc. until the acquisition of the company by imeem, Inc. in April 2008. Before joining SNOCAP in 2005, he was Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Electronic Arts (EA) from 1998 until 2005. He was also with the PepsiCo companies for more than ten years, with the Pratt & Whitney division of United Technologies for two years, and in commercial radio as an on-air personality for six years. Rusty holds an M.S. in counseling and a B.A. in radio and television from Purdue University. In 2003 he was named a distinguished Purdue alumnus, and he and his wife, Patti, are the named benefactors of Purdue’s Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts. He is a corporate director of Glassdoor.com and runcoach. He is the co-founder and Executive Committee Member of T4A.org, serves on the Founding Circle of The Centrist Project and a founding Board Member of The GRAMMY Music Education Coalition. He is also the co-author of the book Talent Force: A New Manifesto for the Human Side of Business. Rusty and his wife, Patti, reside in Hillsborough, CA and Charlestown, R.I.

day 1403: No Fear!


While on a pilgrimage walk on the Camino de Santiago (St. James Way) in Spain, I asked some of the most committed and courageous faith-driven business leaders I know to guest contribute to Purposed worKING.  Enjoy! – Rusty

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“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

Recently at work, I’ve been given opportunities to have what I call ‘blackout experiences’ – or what other people refer to as public speaking. I say blackout because I remember the beginning moments of what I’m saying and then just like that, it’s over and I have no idea what happened. It’s a lot like when you’re driving down the road and you suddenly realize you just went 40 miles and you don’t remember a lick of it. Bad I know, but true. A poll I saw said that people are more afraid of public speaking than being buried alive! Now that’s crazy-talk. Buried alive is way up there on the scary list for me. WAY. But let’s put that aside, shall we?

Public speaking is a nerve-wracking experience, but as I’m just starting to discover, it’s also a faith-building one. Though I’ve begun each time knowing it could be a complete disaster, I’ve simultaneously been filled with a surprising sense of peace and calm. Part of the calm no doubt came from the knowledge I was being carried by the prayers of my warriors (thanks mom and dad). Part I suspect, was knowing I’d done all I knew to prepare. But the main reason for my peace (that literally surpasses my own understanding!) was God’s promise – Do not fear; I will help you. And He did. And He does. And He will.  
Reference: Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
Kiel Murray