Over the summer, the alumni office caught up with alum Amiel Handelsman '88, who moved with his family —wife Julie Endress, and sons Jacob (Greenhills Class of 2027) and Zander—back to Ann Arbor from Oregon in 2021. He shared some Greenhills unofficial cheerleading memories, current sidelines that fill his time, and why focusing on minutiae makes him grumpy.
What are some of the hallmarks of your Greenhills experience?
When I first visited the school I noticed the carpets, forum, small class sizes, and how comfortable everyone was with each other. Over the years I appreciated many aspects of Greenhills: The detailed feedback from teachers that raised the quality of my writing multiple levels; the opportunity to play on the varsity soccer team for three years; and the camaraderie of creatively and loudly cheering with classmates at high school basketball games, followed by spaghetti dinners and dances.
How did you become an executive coach?
After Greenhills I went on to study public policy at Duke and completed an MBA at UM’s Ross School of Business. I subsequently worked on a political campaign and consulted on economic development projects, before founding my current business in 1998. I help leaders and teams navigate complex challenges and learn about themselves in the process. My purpose is to challenge people to use their strengths for the greater good. I feel happiest when I’m engaged in that, and I’m grumpiest when I let myself get caught in minutiae.
What else keeps you busy?
Besides supporting our sons’ sporting endeavors, hosting friends, and enjoying family reading nights, I recently started a volunteer-run organization called ScreenWise Ann Arbor. We advocate for sensible and science-backed tech policies in the public schools. We also connect parents who want to give their kids a play-based childhood emphasizing real-world friendships, independence, and resilience. Pencils and paper over Chromebooks. Loud laughter and physical horsing around over scrolling and notifications. This movement attracts remarkable people, and I'm grateful for the rich conversations and positive vibe.
Keep up-to-date with Amiel through his Medium page or podcast, How My View Grew, which offers “Interviews with nuanced thinkers about the origin stories of their big ideas.”
