Robert S. Kaplan is the Martin Marshall Professor of Management Practice in Business Administration and Senior Associate Dean for External Relations. He is also co-chairman of Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, a global venture philanthropy firm, as well as chairman and a founding partner of Indaba Capital Management LLC. He is the author of several case studies and articles and two books: What You're Really Meant To Do: A Road Map for Reaching Your Unique Potential, and What to Ask the Person in the Mirror: Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential. Prior to joining Harvard Business School in September 2005, Rob served as vice chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. He was also a member of the firm's Management Committee and served as co-chairman of the firm's Partnership Committee and chairman of the Goldman Sachs Pine Street Leadership Program.
The resulting call for learning, asking questions, taking action and making decisions promises to help individuals across organizations of all sizes to become better leaders. -- David Slocum, FORBES The book skillfully walks through the intellectual and emotional issues of leadership, the requirement to be in shape to lead, and lays out thoughtful questions to ask yourself as a leader. -- CBC News ADVANCE PRAISE for What You Really Need to Lead: ROSABETH MOSS KANTER, professor, Harvard Business School; author, MOVE and Confidence-- What You Really Need to Lead is like having your own personal coaching sessions with a very wise and highly successful leader. Rob Kaplan offers down-to-earth advice about the virtues of listening, engaging others, and taking responsibility, through meaningful, engaging stories. ROBERT J. BEALL, President and CEO, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-- Rob Kaplan understands that leadership is not just about taking action-- it's also about asking the tough questions again and again, listening with an open mind, and bringing others--regardless of rank--into the decision-making process. For anyone interested in truly owning their professional and personal growth as a leader, What You Really Need to Lead provides an outstanding and very practical guide. ALAN MULALLY, President and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes; former President and CEO, Ford Motor Company-- Rob Kaplan captures the elements of effective leadership throughout an organization that continuously delivers increasing value for all stakeholders through a reliable process in a rapidly changing world. NARAYANA MURTHY, founder, Infosys-- Rob Kaplan's book is a must-read for every manager throughout the world. He uses compelling, real-life case studies to help managers understand critical facets of leadership and to become highly effective, empathetic, and successful leaders. MITCHELL E. DANIELS JR., President, Purdue University; former Governor of Indiana-- You'll probably see something of yourself in Rob Kaplan's real-world case studies, and you'll definitely be a more capable and confident leader after you've absorbed and applied his road-tested, highly practical principles. ERIC GREITENS, Navy SEAL; New York Times bestselling author, Resilience-- If you want a tough, wise, and capable coach who can help you to become a better leader, then crack open Rob Kaplan's excellent new book. You'll strengthen yourself, and you'll have a more powerful impact on the lives of those you lead.