Stephen E. Murphy

A memoir of risk-taking, poignancy and redemption, On the Edge recounts University of Washington grad, Stephen E. Murphy’s odyssey east to Harvard Business School. Feel his pain as hopes come crashing down. Watch him struggle through Vietnam and Pacific typhoons, but find his way to Columbia Business School, later Brazil. How does he live in an infamous favela in Rio de Janeiro, as an international banker, or end up with Hollywood studios, fighting pirates? Run the gauntlet with him inside the Beltway in both Bush administrations, and relive adventures in Miami Beach in the aftermath of political defeat. See how his Miami Jackson High School students gave him purpose, encouraging a spiritual odyssey. In twelve chapters focused on “turning points of life,” On the Edge: An Odyssey gives inspiration to professionals to land on their feet despite harsh circumstance.

•  “Murphy’s high octane adventures provide fast reading for those keen on showbiz south of the border,” writes Steve Solot, author, Brazil Cinema Today, and president, Rio Film Commission.
• ‘’Stephen Murphy has indeed taken paths less travelled. This is a frank and personal discussion of success, failure and lessons learned by a Seattle boy who became a global wanderer.” — Christopher T. Bayley, author, Seattle Justice; chair, Stewardship Partners; former King County Prosecuting Attorney.

A memoir of risk-taking, poignancy and redemption, On the Edge recounts University of Washington grad, Stephen E. Murphy’s odyssey east to Harvard Business School. Feel his pain as hopes come crashing down. Watch him struggle through Vietnam and Pacific typhoons, but find his way to Columbia Business School, later Brazil. How does he live in an infamous favela in Rio de Janeiro, as an international banker, or end up with Hollywood studios, fighting pirates? Run the gauntlet with him inside the Beltway in both Bush administrations, yet find a way to keep his cool. In twelve chapters focused on “turning points of life,” On the Edge: An Odyssey gives inspiration to professionals to land on their feet despite harsh circumstance. “Murphy’s high octane adventures provide fast reading for those keen on showbiz south of the border,” writes Steve Solot, author, Brazil Cinema Today, and president, Rio Film Commission.

‘’Stephen Murphy has indeed taken paths less travelled. This is a frank and personal discussion of success, failure and lessons learned by a Seattle boy who became a global wanderer.” — Christopher T. Bayley, author, Seattle Justice; chair, Stewardship Partners; former King County Prosecuting Attorney.

About the Author:

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Stephen E. Murphy always felt drawn ‘south of the border’ – starting with an Ecuadorian amiga at Seattle’s World Fair. An alumnus of the University of Washington and Columbia’s Graduate School of Business, he served as gunnery officer on the USS Goldsborough offshore Vietnam. His first job as a young professional was international banker in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where Brazil brought him face-to-face with street kids, depicted in ON THE EDGE: AN ODYSSEY. While holding executive positions with BankBoston, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Peace Corps and Inter-American Development Bank, his love and friendships continue with peoples of the Americas throughout the years. He mentors students in AIESEC, University of Washington, and Fundação Getulio Vargas. As a political appointee in Bush I and II, formerly as Regional Director, Inter-Americas, Peace Corps, Stephen still likes to participate in missions abroad, sponsored by church, universities or NGO. As founder of the Pixote Literacy Fund, Partners of the Americas, he seeks ‘faith based’ projects to help kids “on the edge” to read around the hemisphere. He is Pacific Northwest Advisors’ expert in Latin America and travels to Brazil, Cuba and Mexico with frequency. He serves as chapter advisor, Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at the University of Washington and on UW AIESEC’s Board of Advisors. He’s taught international management courses at Seattle University and Fundação Getulio Vargas. He resides in Issaquah, Washington with his wife Vicki and their Lhasa Apso, ‘Bashful Betty’, and tabby cat Rosie. Stephen loves swimming in open bodies of water and welcomes dialogue with friends. CARPE DIEM. Remarks BankBoston’s alumni director, William Hamilton: “Steve’s early days in Rio de Janeiro – living in a favela and hanging out with Rio’s street kids – are unusual for a staid banker. Though sometimes iconoclastic, his words and actions always give hope.”

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