Successful Business Leaders

There is a demand for guidance in becoming an effective and successful business leader through the exercise of strong management skills and effective leadership qualities. Successful Business Leaders is an important and meaningful guide toward learning the qualities essential to effective leadership. Of the numerous books currently available on the subject, many are worthy of review—yet a substantial portion are based on theoretical thinking of experts and educators and not on real-world experiences. Successful Business Leaders aims to fill this gap, and while the 42 stories included are experiences extracted from banking in the 80s and early 90s, the lessons identified within these stories remain universal to today's business environment.

Amazon and other book providers list several thousand books currently available discussing the many aspects and elements necessary in exercising strong business leadership and management. These sources do not include numerous articles and periodicals on the subjects written and disseminated each year. In addition, there are thousands of classes and training sessions on these subjects offered by hundreds of schools, universities and companies. A recent Deloitte study suggested that up to $14 billion is spent each year on executive level management and leadership training and development. Whether in school, class or self-taught there is a demand for guidance in discerning how to become an effective and successful business leader through the exercise of strong management and effective leadership qualities. Successful Business Leaders is an important, meaningful guide to the qualities essential to exercising effective leadership. Many of the currently available references on these subjects are worthy of review, yet a substantial portion of the works are primarily based on theoretical thinking of experts and educators and not developed from any real-world experiences. There have been only a limited number of experienced practitioners who have attempted to convert their everyday experiences to real-world lessons on leadership and management. The book conveys forty-two real-world stories from banking experiences in the 80s and early 90s. This collection of banking adventures offers the experiences of a very difficult period in the economy and world of finance. These adventures convey the important lessons and qualities necessary in any leadership situation that is essential to perform at the highest level

As a result of more than fifty years in banking, business and consulting, Robert Smith is an expert in mergers and business management. He served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Security Pacific Corporation and Security Pacific Bank, which in the 80s was the fifth largest banking company in the United States. Security Pacific, its 45,000 employees and over five million customers was merged with the Bank of America in the early 90s in order to maximize shareholder value and enhance the career of its executives and employees as well as expand the opportunities for its customers. Smith is a graduate of the University of Southern California with law degree from Van Norman University. He participated in the Advanced Management and Leadership program offered by the Said Business School at Oxford University. He has authored five books, including the successful Dead Bank Walking, Bye Bye Banks, The Changed Face of Banking and the banking novel Board Room Confidential, dealing with the financial and operating impact of the 2008 financial crisis and changes in banking governance. His most recent book, Confessions of a Catholic Convert, explores the struggles of a non-Catholic as he reconciles the Catholic faith and teachings. Smith continues his consulting work and writing, having authored several articles published in American Banker and Bank Think. He has lectured on the risks associated with banking and the impact of mergers on employees, communities and customers and for six years has taught management at the Pacific Coast Banking School, University of Washington. He has also been part of several radio and television discussions about mergers, banking and the economy.