Before I Was CEO

Lessons on "making it" from the world's most successful CEOs Before I Was CEO provides aspiring young professionals with a case study manual for making it to the top. At 27, author and business journalist Peter Vanham got accredited to Davos--the annual meeting of the world's most powerful leaders--where he met one-on-one with some of the most renowned names in business. Instead of asking about profits and losses, he asked them about their lives; what followed was an incredible glimpse into the making of a CEO. This book shares their stories to help you decide what to do next. You'll read about their inspirations, motivations, and lessons learned along the way. You'll learn how they started out, and how they dealt with the "watershed moments" that sealed their fate for better or worse. Told in each CEO's own words, these stories will help you navigate through some of the same scenarios as you work your way up the ladder and discover your own path to leadership at the highest levels. The most powerful CEOs in the world were once like you: young, ambitious, and talented, but staring down a future with too many options. How did they know which way to turn? The answers are as unique as the individuals, but taken together, offer valuable insight on your own career strategy. * Explore the myriad paths to the C suite * Learn why top CEOs were drawn to their careers * Discover the challenges that can make or break a leader * Chart your own path based on lessons from those who have been there Some of the most enigmatic and hard-to-reach CEOs bring very personal stories to light to give you a glimpse at the making of a leader. Whether you're unsure about your next step or planning your career trajectory from scratch, Before I Was CEO provides real-world stories from those who have lessons to teach.