Leaders talk leadership : top executives speak their minds / [edited by] Meredith D. Ashby and Stephen A. Miles ; Heidrick and Struggles International.

Includes index.

Foreword : Leading in the New Century : Storm Clouds and Silver Linings in the Horizon / Jay A. Conger -- Introduction : Factors Affecting Leadership and Human Capital / Stephen A. Miles and Meredith A. Ashby -- 1. Leadership -- 2. Managing Human Capital -- 3. Establishing Competitive Advantage in Today's Market Environment -- 4. Strategic Change and Transformation -- 5. The Stakeholder's View -- Epilogue : Optimizing Human Capital with a "People Operating System" Approach / Jay A. Conger, Stephen A. Miles, and Meredith D. Ashby.

"What gives companies competitive advantage? How do CEOs lead in times of crisis or instability? Why do some companies stay on top for decades while others quickly flame out? How do companies identify, attract, develop, and retain their best and brightest talent? These are some of the questions that Meredith Ashby and Stephen Miles sought to answer as they conducted interviews with hundreds of CEOs, senior managers, financiers, academics, and leadership and management experts.".

"A who's who of the global economy, Leaders Talk Leadership is the result of their unprecedented efforts. This compendium of leadership intellect feature the strategies of men and women who have proven their credentials as leaders time and again. In these pages, such business luminaries as Ken Chenault (American Express), Steve Reinemund (PepsiCo), Ken Lewis (Bank of America), Heinrich von Pierer (Siemens), Michael Dell (Dell Computer), A. G. Lafley (Procter & Gamble), and David Pottruck (Charles Schwab) discuss how companies can best transform themselves and keep their competitive edge in an ever-shifting marketplace."--BOOK JACKET.