Scott Keller Books

Revised edition of Beyond performance, c2011.

New York Times BestsellerWall Street Journal BestsellerFrom the world’s most influential management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, this is an insight-packed, revelatory look at how the best CEOs do their jobs based on extensive interviews with today’s most successful corporate leaders—including chiefs at Netflix, JPMorgan Chase, General Motors, and Sony.Being a CEO at any of the world’s largest companies is among the most challenging roles in business. Billions, and even trillions, are at stake—and the fates of tens of thousands of employees often hang in the balance. Yet, even when “can’t miss” high-achievers win the top job, very few excel. Thirty percent of Fortune 500 CEOs last fewer than three years, and two out of five new CEOs are perceived to be failing within eighteen months.For those who shoulder the burden of being the one on whom everyone counts, a manual for excellence is sorely needed.To identify the 21st century’s best CEOs, the authors of CEO Excellence started with a pool of over 2400 public company CEOs. Extensive screening distilled that group into an elite corps, sixty-seven of whom agreed to in-depth, multi-hour interviews. Among those sharing their Jamie Dimon (JPMorgan Chase), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Reed Hastings (Netflix), Kazuo Hirai (Sony), Ken Chenault (American Express), Mary Barra (GM), and Peter Brabeck-Letmathe (Nestlé).What came out of those frank, no-holds-barred conversations is a rich array of mindsets and actions that deliver outsized performance. Compelling, practical, and unprecedented in scope, CEO Excellence is a treasure trove of wisdom from today’s most elite business leaders.

The secret of achieving and sustaining organizational excellence revealed In an ever-changing world where only a third of excellent organizations stay that way over the long term, and where even fewer are able to implement successful change programs, leaders are in need of big ideas and new tools to thrive.

Set against the backdrop of pre-Revolutionary War America, the story immerses readers in the lives of colonial Virginia's Shenandoah piedmont. Isaac Spotswood, born into privilege, aspires to cultivate a modest life on his own farmstead, opposing the land-grabbing and slave-owning practices of British aristocrats like Lord Fairfax and George Washington. His journey highlights the tension between personal ambition and societal expectations during a pivotal time in American history.

Set against the backdrop of colonial Virginia's Blue Ridge piedmont, the narrative intertwines historical figures with the cultural tensions of the era. It uncovers the dark secrets behind the land-grabbing practices of British aristocrats and colonial planters, featuring prominent characters like Lord Fairfax and George Washington. This exploration sheds light on the complexities of ambition and power during a transformative period in American history.

Set against the backdrop of colonial Virginia, the narrative explores the tension between English aristocrats and the rising wealth of local planters, particularly the influential Spotswood, Burwell, and Carter families. Through richly developed characters and their intertwined lives, the story delves into themes of power, ambition, and social dynamics, all inspired by actual historical events. The beautifully crafted prose evokes the complexities of this era and the challenges faced by those who resist the established order.

Offering leaders and senior managers the answers to critical questions on organizational design and management.