Great business leaders possess more than celebrated traits like charisma
and an appetite for risk. They have contextual intelligence--a profound
ability to understand the Zeitgeist of their times and harness it to
create successful organizations. Based on a comprehensive Harvard
Business School Leadership Initiative study, Anthony J. Mayo and Nitin
Nohria present a fascinating collection of stories of the 20th century's
greatest leaders, from unsung heroes to legends like Sam Walton and Bill
Gates. The book identifies three distinct paths these individuals
followed to greatness: entrepreneurial innovation, savvy management, and
transformational leadership. Through engaging stories of leaders in each
category, the authors show how, by reading the context they operated in
and embracing the opportunities their times presented, these individuals
created, grew, or revitalized outstanding American enterprises. A canon
of leadership success from the last century, In Their Time reveals
insights for contemporary leaders hoping to build lasting legacies.