Leading Through Culture: How Real Leaders Create Cultures That Motivate People to Achieve Great Things

by Ken Wilcox

MP3 CD Format Any of us may be called to lead, for a short time or a longer one, in a large or small group, and almost all of us are capable. I wrote this book with leaders of all kinds of organizations in mind, not just CEOs of corporations, but rather anyone who finds themselves in a position of leadership. This includes department heads, scout leaders, heads of not-for-profits, work group leaders, church leaders, school principals--literally anyone who finds themselves in a position of leadership, for whatever time frame, at whatever stage of an organization's development. This book's basic principles apply to leaders across a wide variety of organization types and sizes. Silicon Valley Bank was a startup when I joined it in 1990. It had about 1,200 people in total when I passed my CEO baton on to my successor, Greg Becker, ten years later; today, under Greg's leadership, it is one of the largest banks in the US and one of only a handful with a global orientation. And yet, I believe that the stories and principles elucidated in the book apply to every part of this journey, from startup to global bank.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Leadership

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 8, 2020

About the author

A 30-year veteran of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Ken Wilcox served as CEO from 2001 to 2011 and as Vice Chairman of SVB's joint venture in Shanghai (SSVB) until 2019. He was a member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from 2006 to 2012.

Ken now serves as Chairman of the Board of the Asia Society of Northern California, Treasurer of the Asian Art Museum, and a member of the 21st Century China Center Advisory Board. He is also the Chief Credit Officer of Columbia Lake Venture Debt Fund.

He is also an adjunct professor and member of the International Advisory Board at Fudan University in Shanghai, and an advisor to a number of startups.

Ken holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, as well as a PhD in German studies from Ohio State University. He is the author of "The China Business Conundrum: Ensure That 'Win-Win' Doesn't Mean Western Companies Lose Twice" and "Leadership through Culture."

Reviews

[Firas Abdulhasain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very insightful. And much shorter than many other books about this topic of leadership, change, and culture.

[Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received as a Goodreads Giveaway*

Ken Wilcox has a storied financial career and shares his experiences and his thoughts on leadership. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. And though I have a managerial role in an education company, I found myself highlighting and commenting furiously, because many of Ken’s thoughts are universal in business.

Culture trumps strategy is Ken’s mantra and he lays out a very persuasive argument for why. Too often though, a company’s culture is its strategy and everything gives way. I took away many great pointers that I already want to seek to incorporate in my own work. As my unit goes through disruptive change, I look forward to hopefully utilizing some of Ken’s advice to lead through change management.

Anyone looking to be a strong leader, or even decide if leadership is for them, should read this book.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than I expected. Quite frank and honest. You'd get a better sense of the book if the title was "What a CEO is supposed to be doing all day." As a personal soap box speech about ethical leadership, I quite enjoyed it.

[Kristen]

I thought this book was terrific, full of good advice that seems applicable across a wide variety of situations and areas. It’s a quick read, humorous at times, includes interesting examples of historical figures, and has a humanistic approach that I found refreshing. Definitely recommend it.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear, helpful account of learning to lead with special emphasis on communication. I wish I had read this before I became the COO of a boutique consulting group - I think I would have had more fun and I'm sure my team would have. Highly recommended for the action-oriented tips and guidelines.

[Ian Tenbrink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very wordy to say the same thing a lot of other leadership/culture books say. Can truly be boiled down to the 2 dozen pages of bullet points.
Also - a bit ironic the former CEO of a now insolvent bank has a book about leadership.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, easy, and sometime humorous read on ethical leadership. Would recommend!

[Abigail G · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was some vry good information which can be taken from the business world into other leadership areas.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could I’d give this book 4.5 stars. So many practical ideas in this book. You need a notebook next to you! I would reread this to take note of the ideas better.

[Roy Van Den Brande · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Most content is typical leadership stuff. But chapters like banking in China and HQ vs local Offices make it stand out a little bit.