CREATIVE LEADERSHIP LESSONS

The CEO of Disney shares the ideas and values that have allowed him to reinvent one of the world's most admired companies and inspire the people who bring the magic to life.

Robert Iger became CEO of the Walt Disney Company in 2005 during a difficult time for the company. Morale had deteriorated, competition was intense, and technology was changing faster than at any other time in history. His future project was based on three very clear ideas: renew the commitment to the importance of quality, integrate technology instead of fighting it, and think ambitiously with a global vision to make Disney a stronger brand in international markets. Fourteen years later, Disney is the largest and most respected media company in the world, and its properties include Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox. With Robert Iger at the helm, recognized as one of the most innovative and successful CEOs of our era, the company's value has quintupled. In "The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company", Iger shares the lessons learned leading Disney and its 200,000 employees and explores the principles necessary for true leadership, which are: Optimism. Even in the face of difficulties, an optimistic leader will find the path to the best possible outcome and focus on it, instead of succumbing to pessimism and blame. Courage. Leaders must be willing to take risks and make big bets. Fear of failure destroys creativity. Decisiveness. All decisions, no matter how complex, can be made in a timely manner. Indecision is wasteful and undermines morale. Fairness. People must be treated with decency, empathy, and be accessible to them. This book shows the inexhaustible curiosity that has driven Iger for forty-five years, from the day he began as a humble apprentice at an ABC studio. And it also deals with consideration and respect, and the primacy of dignity over money that has been fundamental in all projects promoted by Iger, from his deep friendship with Steve Jobs in his last years to his enduring love for the mythology of "Star Wars." "The ideas in this book seem universal to me," writes Iger. "Not only for aspiring CEOs of the world, but for all those people who want to feel less fearful, more confident in themselves, in their professional and even personal lives."