ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is the culmination of years of work, persistent exploration, collaboration with hundreds of people, and perhaps most of all, the good fortune to be surrounded by great individuals.

I am indebted to my teammates at the Stanford Graduate School of Business for their intelligence and rigor around all things business. The university has been unbelievably supportive in providing resources and a foundation to work with others who seem to have infinite competencies and talent. In particular, Professor Robert Burgelman has been a mentor for almost three decades, and I am grateful for all he has taught me. My co-teachers and partners for much of the material in this book include Max Wessel and Aaron Levie, who inspired the initial ideas and directions in our course The Industrialist’s Dilemma. I have been blessed to teach my Systems Leadership class with Jeff Immelt, who not only shared so much of what he learned in his career, but who also provided invaluable support—mental, intellectual, emotional, and otherwise.

Over the years I’ve had countless guests and visitors to my courses, including not only those mentioned in this book, but also hundreds of others who shared their insights, wisdom, and generosity with our school. I’ve been lucky to instruct thousands of students who inspire me every day with their big brains, their bigger hearts, and their desire to do both good and well in the world. Teaching at Stanford is akin to teaching at the United Nations: every moment surrounded by brilliant men and women who come from every continent and country.

I have the best job ever.

Stephen Issacs, Donya Dickerson, and the team at McGraw Hill have been vital in their support and coaching in the writing of this book. I owe them a debt of gratitude for patiently working with me as a first-time author.

Will Weisser helped me find my voice and write a manuscript that was understandable and more closely resembled how I actually speak. If anything in the content is simple and easy to understand, it is entirely due to his relentlessly driving me to be clearer in my messages. If anything is unclear, it is my fault. I look forward to our continued collaborations in the future.

Catherine Fredman was kind enough to provide a sharp pen and critical eye that pushed me to be better and more consistent throughout the writing process. I hope someday to have half of her capabilities in fine-tuning the written word. When I write I now hear her voice in my head providing input even before I send her something to review.

Leah Spiro took me under her wing and taught me the ins and outs of proposing, writing, and thinking about a book. I am grateful for her infinite support and her dedication to sticking with me through the ups and downs of making this manuscript a reality.

Finally, and most important, I could only have completed this book with the love and support of my family: Debbie, Kelly, Evan, and Samantha. Without them I have nothing.