Powerful principles for
connecting and building
While watching generations of colleagues struggle to make lasting change through their networks, London England identified an urgent issue: the endless slog of 300-page novels, months-long university courses, and guru-led self-help were failing to teach young professionals how to truly connect with their peers and mentors. So, he joined forces with Holland Farr and wrote Transformational, not Transactional as a concise way to share networking best practices, in a simple format for anyone to benefit.
Now, the project has grown into a full range of learning opportunities, including a podcast, online course, and in-person class.
What we believe
Transformational, not transactional.
The team
Meet the people behind the project
The book, the course, and this site all come from the same small team.
London England
As a builder who brings community, I have been motivated by the challenge of making our world more curiously connected. My name is London England, and I am currently living in my ninth US city: Seattle, WA. I was originally inspired by my work with Share in McLean, VA, where I led efforts to lift people off their apartment floors with donated beds, and enabled them to find jobs with refurbished computers. The through-line across my 15 volunteer and professional years of working with people is simple: make people feel seen, think of what is possible, and combine those to make their experience the best it can be.
Holland Farr
Holland Farr is a Video Producer currently based in Alexandria, VA. Growing up in a Navy family, he moved frequently around the United States, gathering a wide range of experiences and perspectives that fueled an interest in storytelling. Having worked in a number of mediums from animation to video, he now leads a number of creative projects, including an Instagram art page sponsored by The LEGO Group and the Transformational Ties project alongside London England.
Organizational Satisfaction
Endorsed by the organizations we partner with
When a company brings us in to train their people, this is what they tell us afterward.
"London is an outstanding instructor and a staunch supporter of the Ed Wells Partnership and our mission to provide training and career-development resources that strengthen the skills of our SPEEA represented employees. His course, A Simplified Approach to Transformational Networking, fills a key gap in our Ed Wells catalog on the topic of networking and has become a valued offering. The class is consistently well received in our general curriculum and has also been delivered as a standalone session for several organization-specific training requests."
In addition, London contributes to our Crucial Skills of Effective Leads course as an LTL (Leaders Teaching Leaders) instructor on Networking — a foundational course in our Global Technical Leadership at Boeing certificate program, where he plays a significant role in developing future leaders by sharing his expertise, experience, and personal stories.
London's passion and commitment to developing others extend beyond the classroom: he connects with students after class to support their ongoing development, solicits feedback to improve his facilitation and content, and is a trusted thought partner in discussions around current and future class direction. London is a pleasure to work with, and I look forward to continuing our partnership."
"What I would have given to have had a book like this available to me when I began my career. Astute, to the point, and effective. Every new graduate and those about to graduate should read it — and get ahead."
"This book is incredible. Whether you're a young professional, mid-career, or simply someone who wants to better understand what true networking is, Transformational, Not Transactional is a must-read. It challenges you to think differently — are they genuinely transformational, or just transactional? Practical, thought-provoking, and deeply relevant."
Documented Results
The numbers back it up
Across 10 course sessions and 110 participants, London's post-class survey scores have consistently exceeded target — and the outcomes follow people well past the classroom.
"Reading Transformational, Not Transactional honestly changed the way I look at networking. Before, I think I treated it more like a means to an end, but your book helped me realize the importance of building real relationships without expecting anything right away."
"In my previous role, I started applying that mindset — just being more genuine, staying in touch with people, and trying to add value where I could. Over time, those relationships naturally led to opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise. That shift played a big part in me landing my current role as a Field Service Engineer with a defense contractor out in Seattle. It wasn't about asking for anything. It was just about building trust, and things kind of fell into place from there."
"Your book didn't just help me network better, it changed how I think about relationships and long-term success in general."
In-Room Reviews
What students say right after class
Real, anonymous feedback collected immediately after each session — browse through to see more.
"London has clearly a lot of experience and awareness of the concepts involved in networking. The main difference between transactional vs transformational approaches is extremely valuable."
"Instructor does a great job engaging with class and keeping everyone on track. Fun and enjoyable the whole time while also being very informative."
"Very engaging and drove great conversations. Really took the time to make sure each topic was understood with practical examples that could be applied instantly."
"I have learnt a lot from this class. Thank you! London created space for everyone to share their ideas."
"This is one of the best Ed Wells classes that I've taken. Please consider offering a part II."
"Thanks London. Great Job! Everyone was concerned about a 4hr class but there wasn't a dull moment."
"Course facilitation was fantastic, adjusted on the fly to where the class needed to go based on questions and discussion. Demonstrated knowledge of the topics."
"Really great course and instructor. Dialog was constructive and facilitated a great learning environment. I'll recommend to anyone in any position to attend."
"The instructor was one of the best I have ever had! Great atmosphere, highly recommend to anyone to take this class."
"The instructor was awesome! He did a great job teaching great content. 100% would recommend the class."
"Strong speaker, knowledgeable, delivery tempo was just right. Content was applicable and easy to digest."
"Instructor was very engaging with students and gives us an opportunity to share ideas. Knowledge gained from this course is applicable to job and career development."
"I found this class to be very well structured and I think it will be very helpful in daily life."
"London did a great job :) Loved their energy and did a great job at keeping people engaged."
"I think this course did a great job at explaining what positive/transformational networking is."
"Course delivery was great: I loved we had a book to follow and reference things as need. The instructor was great, knowledgeable, and kind."
"The book provided is really helpful, usually handouts are not. Everything was well delivered and actually helpful w/ actionable steps and techniques."
In the News
Our work making headlines
FOX8 WGHP featured BookLove, the location of our first ever on-shelf presence. Hear the story of the owner, a dear friend of ours… and keep an eye out for our book in the background!
Upgrade your thinking
Continue learning. Build real relationships. Live the results.