Before I Was CEO: Life Stories and Lessons from Leaders Before They Reached the Top - Hardcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

PETER VANHAM is a business writer and media strategist. He is the U.S. media lead and a global leadership fellow at the World Economic Forum, as well as a contributor to Financial Times, Business Insider, and Forbes. Prior to working in media, he was a management consultant at Bain & Company in Brussels. He holds an M.A. in Business & Economics from Columbia Journalism School and an M.S. in Commercial Engineering from the University of Leuven.

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Praise for Before I Was CEO

"A much-needed reminder that successful careers are full of twists and turns and that people who lead most effectively aren't always the ones with the burning desire for power."
Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

"At last, some in-depth reporting that explains how and why people really got ahead, rather than the over-simplified platitudes that make up most business advice books. Peter Vanham has coaxed lively and revealing accounts from some of the world's prominent chief executives."
James B. Stewart, Columnist, New York Times; Winner, Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting; Author of Heart of a Soldier, Blood Sport, and Den of Thieves

"Peter Vanham really delves deep in his interviews with several of the world's leading entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. The result is not only a compelling set of expertly weaved narratives but also some genuinely valuable insights, especially into what keeps business leaders going even in their darkest hours."
James Kynge, Emerging Markets Editor, Financial Times; Author of China Shakes the World

"Life stories are always intriguing and fascinating. This marvelous book provides glimpses and at times profound insights into the lives of leaders, and deep reflections on what we can learn from their experiences and choices."
Lynda Gratton, Professor, London Business School; Author of The 100 Year Life

"Before I Was CEO is a lifting of the curtains on the personal itineraries of twenty diverse CEOs ... a unique set of accounts, deeply personal and compellingly instructive."
Michael Useem, Wharton Professor, From the Foreword

Aus dem Klappentext

It started with three questions at Davos. Have you always known what you wanted to be in life? What are some "watershed moments" that made you who you are? When did you get on track to become a successful CEO? Peter Vanham looked to the answers from the elite leaders he asked to validate his own career choice, and the rich, private wisdom he received revealed more about building a career than he'd found anywhere else. He shares it all with you in Before I Was CEO.

For everyone who lays awake at night wondering if they're heading up or down the corporate ladder, this collection of personal stories from a remarkable group of the most accomplished men and women in business today proves everyone can put themselves in the C-suite by taking a variety of different paths it's all how you do it. Some found opportunity through adversity and others came by their big-break moments through serendipity. A group of them walked away from corporate life and lived in other ways and others made calculated moves to advance their careers. In their own words, read how it all unfolded, the tough decisions they wrestled, the risks and rewards they saw, and how it all came together. You don't need a royal pedigree or Ivy League education to reach the top as long as you:

• Spread your wings, value family, and make informed decisions based on your dreams
• Take the first thirty-five years of your life to discover what you're interested in and don't rush to be a CEO
• Strategically deal with failure, remember the lessons you learned, and adapt to situations you can't change

You aren't the first person to be at the crossroads you're standing in, and with the motivating and instructive stories in Before I Was CEO, you may find answers to chart your own path in life and career.