Publications
Publications
- March 2021 (Revised August 2023)
- HBS Case Collection
Helen Keller: Changing the World
By: Robert Simons and Shirley Sun
Abstract
This case describes the rise of Helen Keller who at 19 months became deaf and blind. Refusing to be sidelined from life, Keller showed great determination in learning how to communicate with others, employing tutors and travelling to Boston to enroll in the Perkins Institute for the Blind. At age 24, she graduated from Radcliffe College as the first deaf-blind person in the world to earn a college degree. Keller then devoted her life to improving opportunities for the blind. As her fame grew, she travelled extensively and met presidents and world leaders and convinced them to support her cause. Students will learn how Helen Keller navigated life’s choices to leave a lasting impact on the world.
Keywords
Mission And Purpose; Values And Beliefs; Success; Diversity; Leading Change; Personal Development and Career; Personal Characteristics; Power and Influence
Citation
Simons, Robert, and Shirley Sun. "Helen Keller: Changing the World." Harvard Business School Case 121-071, March 2021. (Revised August 2023.)