Tough Choices: A Memoir - Hardcover

Superb...certain to be a hit. Ms Fiorina is at her best when recounting the travails of a woman in a male-dominated culture. Ms Fiorina is also good in her psychological descriptions of the constand betrayals that occur in corporate bureaucracies. The woman that emerges from these pages is cutlured, sensitive and vulnerable, even as she acts tough. The Economist, 14th October 2006 "This book will be an inspiration to anyone trying to build a business career. It is chock full of examples of dealing with tough situations, both successes and failures; from how to approach a new job to dealing with a visit to a strip club, confronting sexism, earning respect, building teams, leading effectively, coping with failure, exploiting opportunities, winning a vicous battle for shareholders' votes, right through to remaining dignified when you've been fired. " Val Gooding, CEO of BUPA in Management Today, November 2006 "This book has more spice and more drama that the typical business autobiography. It is also well written, sometimes moving, and refreshingly candid about how executives in large corporations behave and misbehave. It should have a wide appeal - and not just to women who aspire to follow in Fiorina's footsteps." The Sunday Telegraph, 5th November 2006

By accepting the CEO job at Hewlett-Packard, an iconic company that had lost its way, Carly Fiorina confirmed her status as the most powerful businesswoman in America. But, she also made herself a target for everyone who disliked her bold leadership style and resented her rapid rise. For six years, as she led HP through drastic changes and a controversial merger, Fiorina was the subject of endless analysis, debate, and speculation. She appeared on the cover of every major magazine and her every word was scrutinized. Yet, in all that time, the public never got to know the person behind the persona. "Tough Choices" finally reveals the real Carly Fiorina, who writes with brutal honesty about her triumphs and failures, her deepest fears and most painful confrontations - including her sudden and very public firing by HP's board of directors. It's an amazing life story: Fiorina was a liberal arts major and law school dropout who didn't even consider a business career until her mid twenties. But soon she was blazing through big jobs at AT&T and then Lucent Technologies, with a growing reputation as a creative, hard working, visionary leader. Her career path would have been remarkable for anyone, but in an industry dominated by men, it was unprecedented. "Tough Choices" shows what it's really like to lead a major corporation in a time of great change while trying to stay true to your values. It's one woman's inspiring story, along with her unique perspective on leadership, technology, globalization, sexism, and many other issues.