Movers and Shakers: The Humanity of Service
In briefAI summary — tap to read
Michael Collopy, a world-renowned portrait photographer, shared insights from 46 years documenting world leaders, Nobel Peace laureates, and changemakers including Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and Neil Armstrong. He emphasized that the common thread among these transformative figures is profound humility, boundless dedication to others, and an unwavering commitment to service above self.
Key takeaways
- Humility and sacrifice define true leaders—they consistently put others first, do small things with great love, and avoid seeking personal recognition or standing on their laurels.
- Pre-visualization and deep psychological understanding are essential tools; whether in photography or leadership, seeing the desired outcome and truly listening to others creates authentic connection and impact.
- Never allow anyone to leave your presence without feeling better for having been with you; recognize the divine in each person and focus on making them feel valued rather than judged.
- Persistent, respectful outreach opens doors—Collopy's willingness to show up daily and demonstrate genuine respect earned him mentorship from Ansel Adams and access to transform lives.
- Service is not about grand gestures but small acts done with great love; as Mother Teresa taught, one can only serve and love one person at a time, making each interaction deeply meaningful.
About Michael CollopyMichael Collopy is a world-famous portrait photographer and author who has documented seven U.S. presidents, countless heads of state, and approximately 41 Nobel Peace laureates over his 46-year career, learning firsthand about humility and service from leaders like Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela.
AI-generated from the meeting recording — AI can make mistakes, so check the recording for anything important.
MEETING FOR THE WEEK OF July 29, 2024
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Program: Movers and Shakers: The Humanity of Service
Speaker: Michael Collopy
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Program: Movers and Shakers: The Humanity of Service
Speaker: Michael Collopy
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San Francisco native and renowned portrait photographer Michael Collopy will discuss his career photographing some of the world’s most influential leaders, including seven U.S. presidents and 41 Nobel peace laureates, business leaders, and civil rights activists.
Collopy has also been commissioned to photograph movie stars and musicians such as George Clooney, Penelope Cruz, Paul McCartney, B.B. King, the Rolling Stones, and Frank Sinatra. His iconic photos of Mother Teresa in her Calcutta mission have come to symbolize her work and humanity.
His latest published collection of photographs, “Courage,” profiles people who “have exemplified bravery through specific acts of courage,” including poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, Former South African President Nelson Mandela, and primatologist Jane Goodall.
In his presentation, Collopy will discuss the art of portrait photography, the power of photojournalism to move an audience, and how he has been inspired by the people he has photographed.
Michael Collopy has gained worldwide recognition for his commissioned portraits of hundreds of public figures. His portfolio contains a vast array of portraits from world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and 41 Nobel peace laureates to 7 U.S. Presidents and entertainers like Paul McCartney, George Clooney, Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba. Collopy also worked with Frank Sinatra for many years. In 1996 Collopy released his 1st bestselling book: ""Works Of Love Are Works Of Peace"" with Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
In 2016, one of Collopy's portraits of Mother Teresa was chosen as the official Vatican picture for Mother Teresa's Canonization. This image appeared on the cover of Time Magazine for the 3rd time in 10 years. Another photograph from Collopy's archive was selected and painted as Mother Teresa's official Sainthood portrait and was displayed on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for a week and broadcast throughout the world. Pope Francis tweeted the image out on the eve of the Canonization and received 95,000 likes. The image currently hangs in the chapels of the Missionaries of Charity around the globe. Michael Collopy is the founder of: architectsofpeace.org and The Caminar for Mental Health expressive arts program (links below).
Members and guests, please welcome Michael Collopy!
To learn more, go to:
https://michaelcollopyphotography.com
https://www.architectsofpeace.org
https://instagram.com/michael.collopy.photography
https://instagram.com/architectsofpeace
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