cover image There's No Elevator to the Top: A Leading Headhunter Shares the Advancement Strategies of the World's' Most Successful Executives

There's No Elevator to the Top: A Leading Headhunter Shares the Advancement Strategies of the World's' Most Successful Executives

Umesh Ramakrishnan, , . Portfolio, $24.95 (248pp) ISBN 978-1-59184-225-5

As vice chairman of a global executive search firm, Ramakrishman uses his access to the top executives at major corporations to ask the one question aspiring CEOs, and even new entrants to the business world, would most like to know: What do you know now that you wish you had known 20 years ago? The result is a low-key, highly personal look back at success. The advice Ramakrishman elicits from the executives delves into such areas as the importance of choosing only 'A' players when seeking to assemble a strong team and striving for a flatter organizational structure to promote communication and information flow. The subject matter does not vary significantly from standard career topics like the importance of networking, but the real value here is access to the wisdom and guidance of proven leaders such as Steve Reinemund of Pepsi and Terrence Marks of Coca-Cola. Chapter-ending executive summaries underscore key points that will benefit anyone—regardless of their corporate ranking—looking to advance in their field. (Nov.)