Author | Diane Kalen-Sukra

Scribe of human flourishing.

Diane Kalen-Sukra is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and internationally recognized civic leadership expert, named a global Top Thinker in Local Government in 2026 by the United Kingdom’s leading civic policy and practice institute, the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) for "catalysing a movement to renew civility and trust in public life."

She brings more than three decades of public service and civic leadership experience, including an award-winning tenure as a city manager in British Columbia. Diane is the founder of Kalen Academy, an online civic leadership institute equipping leaders to renew civic culture in their communities.

Diane’s published works include the bestsellers Save Your City: How Toxic Culture Kills Community & What To Do About It and its companion Lead with Civility: A Handbook for Uncivil Times, as well as Civic Resilience and regular columns in Municipal World and Public Sector Digest.

Her books call for a revival of civic values and civic education as key to fostering the kind of culture that can sustain us, our democracy, and our planet.

As the culmination of a decade-long civility tour that went global, Diane spearheaded and hosted the inaugural Global Civility Summit 2024: Tackling Toxicity, Cultivating Civility. The summit brought together nearly 500 civic leaders from hundreds of cities to share strategies to bridge divides, enhance civil discourse, and renew civic culture.

At the second Global Civility Summit 2026, on the theme “Leading Through Uncivil Times,” she launched Lead with Civility: A Handbook for Uncivil Times, which rose to #1 Amazon bestseller in Government and Politics.

Save Your City
5th Anniversary Edition

Toxic culture is eroding our sense of belonging, community and well-being. Our capacity to collaborate and innovate together is also being undermined by the rising incivility and divisiveness. We need each other to address the complex challenges facing our cities and communities -- from the infrastructure deficit to climate change, homelessness, mental health and addiction issues. In order to thrive, our local democracies depend on our ability to revive the art of living and working well together.

Literary Titan Gold Book Award _ Save Your City

Civic Resilience
Edition

In the annals of history, we have faced numerous trials and tribulations, but the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as an unparalleled crucible that tested the resilience of our civic institutions. While the challenges it presented were immense, the response and adaptation of local governments revealed a phenomenon of profound significance—a values revolution that catalyzed remarkable cultural change within municipalities. Civic Resilience delves deep into this transformative period in our civic history. This e-book represents extensive research into local governance during one of the most unprecedented global crises of our time. The book's aim is twofold: to comprehend the seismic shifts that COVID-19 initiated within local governments and to harness the invaluable insights for the betterment of our communities. In these pages, you'll explore how local governments navigated the pandemic's challenges, fostering innovation, empathy, and adaptability. These experiences exemplify servant leadership, compassion, and ethics—values that have been the bedrock of civic leadership. The insights gleaned transcend the crisis, offering a roadmap for the future of local government marked by sustained transformation and resilience. This e-book is an exploration of civic resilience, a testament to the unwavering spirit of local governments, and a call to action for civic leaders to shape the future of our municipalities, illuminating the path to a brighter and more resilient civic future.

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Lead with Civility
A Handbook for Uncivil Times

Lead with Civility is a handbook for leaders who refuse to surrender public life to contempt, chaos, and fear. In an age of performative outrage, misinformation, and rising authoritarianism, Diane Kalen Sukra challenges the myth that might makes right. She shows how doing right by each other builds the shared strength our communities and institutions depend on. Kalen-Sukra reclaims civility as a culture-shaping leadership discipline—a powerful antidote to toxicity. It equips leaders to hold the line, protect people and process, and make tough decisions that restore order and advance the common good. She introduces the art of the civic intervention: using your role, procedures, and presence to interrupt harmful patterns and reset the norms of the rooms and places you lead. Drawing on ancient wisdom, modern research, and her experience as a city manager and global civility advocate, Kalen Sukra offers a proven roadmap and practical tools for leaders determined to turn the cultural tide. Vivid portraits and guest essays from civic leaders show how incivility and dysfunction can become catalysts for renewal. A handbook for leaders who want to change the culture—not just survive it. *** Lead with Civility is a companion to the bestseller Save Your City.