Charles Handy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Handy CBE
Handy (left) in 2007
Born	Charles Brian Handy (1932-07-25)25 July 1932 Clane, County Kildare, Ireland
Died	13 December 2024(2024-12-13) (aged 92)
Years active	1956–2024
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Handy ​ (died 2018)​
Children	2

Charles Brian Handy CBE (born July 25, 1932 – died December 13, 2024) was an Irish writer and thinker. He was famous for his ideas about how organizations work and how people can manage their careers. He came up with ideas like the "portfolio career". This is where someone has many different jobs or projects at once. He also created the "shamrock organization" idea. This describes a company with a small main team, many freelance workers, and part-time helpers.

Charles Handy was considered one of the most important thinkers in management. He was often listed among the top management experts in the world. In 2001, he was ranked second on a special list called Thinkers 50. He was just behind another famous thinker, Peter Drucker. In 2006, he received an honorary degree from Trinity College Dublin.

Life and Career of Charles Handy

Charles Handy was born in Clane, County Kildare, Ireland. His father was a church leader. Charles went to boarding school at Bromsgrove School and then studied at Oriel College, Oxford.

Handy started his career in marketing at a big company called Shell plc. Later, in 1972, he began teaching at the London Business School. He also spent a year in Boston learning how the Massachusetts Institute of Technology taught business.

Here are some of his important roles:

• Marketing executive at Shell International Petroleum Company (1956–1965).
• Economist at Charter International (1965–1966).
• International Faculty Fellow at MIT (1966–1967).
• Professor at London Business School (1967–1995).
• Warden at St George's House, Windsor Castle (1977–1981).
• Writer and broadcaster (1981–2024).

Charles Handy was also the chairman of the Royal Society of Arts from 1987 to 1989. This is an organization that works to improve society through arts, manufacturing, and commerce.

He received many special honorary degrees from different universities. These degrees are given to people who have achieved great things. He was also made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000. This is a special award from the British King or Queen for his work in education and management.

Handy's Ideas and Writing Style

To understand Charles Handy's way of thinking, you can look at the start of his autobiography. He wrote about a time when someone asked him if he was "Charles Handy." He replied, "Indeed he is, and I am he." The person then asked, "Are you sure?" Handy said it was a good question because he had changed a lot over time. This shows he was thoughtful and had a good sense of humor. He often wrote about how people and organizations change.

Charles Handy's Family Life

Handy (right) with his wife Elizabeth (left) in 2007

Charles Handy was married to Elizabeth Handy, who was a photographer. They worked together on some books, like The New Alchemists. Sadly, Elizabeth passed away in a car accident in 2018. They had two children. Their son, Scott Handy, is an actor who has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Their daughter, Kate, is an osteopath, a type of health professional.

Charles Handy passed away on December 13, 2024, at the age of 92.

Books by Charles Handy

Charles Handy wrote many books about business, management, and how people live and work. Here are some of his well-known books:

• Understanding Organisations (1976) – ISBN: 0-14-015603-8.
• Gods of Management (1978) – ISBN: 0-09-954841-0.
• The Future of Work (1984)
• Understanding Schools (1986)
• Understanding Voluntary Organisations (1988) ISBN: 978-0-14-022491-7.
• The Age of Unreason (1989) – ISBN: 0-09-954831-3.
• Inside Organisations (1990)
• The Empty Raincoat (1994) – ISBN: 0-09-930125-3. (In the US, it was called The Age of Paradox – ISBN: 0-87584-425-1).
• Waiting for the Mountain to Move (1995)
• Beyond Certainty (1995) – ISBN: 0-87584-763-3.
• The Hungry Spirit (1997) – ISBN: 0-09-922772-X.
• New Alchemists (1999) – ISBN: 0-09-179995-3.
• Thoughts for the Day (1999) – ISBN: 0-09-940529-6.
• The Elephant and the Flea (2001) – ISBN: 0-09-941565-8.
• A Journey through Tea – with Elizabeth Handy
• Re-invented lives (2002)
• Myself and Other More Important Matters (2006) – his autobiography – ISBN: 0-434-01346-3.
• The New Philanthropists (2006)
• 21 Ideas for Managers (2000) ISBN: 0-7879-5219-2.
• The Second Curve (2015) ISBN: 1-8479-4133-8.