‘The transition to general management can be thorny, but Kaiser, Pich and Schecter make it both accessible and enjoyable. By letting us see through the lenses of three fictional leaders taking on new roles, they bring the journey to life, letting us feel both the growing pains and also the rewards. By the end, you will know these characters intimately, cheering them on when they succeed, shouting at them when they stumble, and smiling along with them as they acquire the practical skills and personal wisdom essential to becoming a general manager in today's global world.’
Laurence Applebaum, Executive Vice President, Women's Tennis Association
‘In Becoming a Top Manager, Kaiser, Pich and Schecter cleverly address the three vital parts of the transformation: managing the business, managing others, and, perhaps most fundamentally, managing oneself. They also integrate the views of many who have attended their programs and successfully applied the lessons in their own careers. The result is a highly engaging, highly readable book that should be mandatory for anyone preparing to take this important step in their professional journey.’
Fulvia Aurino, Brand General Manager, Estée Lauder and Tom Ford Beauty, Italy
‘By creating three fictional characters as chaperones on the journey, Kaiser, Pich and Schecter present the complex, largely unfamiliar world of general management with insight, empathy, and, in the end, inspiration. Anyone about to undertake this critical step in their career path will benefit enormously from reading Becoming a Top Manager and applying its lessons.’
Martijn Bödeker, Managing Partner, CATALPA GmbH & Co. KG
‘Becoming A Top Manager asks and answers all the right questions when it comes to cultivating senior leaders! Kaiser, Pich and Schecter know exactly what it takes to make this journey from functional leader to GM. They outline a path fraught with complexity, but they don't sugar-coat any part of it. So if you're racing down the road to general management, make this book required reading – and doing.’
Hal Gregersen, Executive Director of the MIT Leadership Center and co-author of The Innovator's DNA
‘In Becoming a Top Manager, Kaiser, Pich and Schecter skilfully and cleverly address the three vital pieces of this transformation: managing the business, managing others, and, most important of all, managing oneself. You will not read a book that addresses the transition to general management in a more astute and engaging way.’
Ricardo Ferrero, Global Marketing Lead, Baker Hughes
‘A must-read for those who aspire to become successful GMs. Kaiser, Pich and Schecter have done an excellent job of articulating the essence of general management in a compelling, inspiring and entertaining way.’
Wopke B. Hoekstra, Partner, McKinsey & Company and member of Dutch Senate
‘Becoming a Top Manager is essential reading for anyone making the transition from functional leader to general manager. Readers will immediately relate to and learn from the fictional GMs presented within while being entertained and inspired by their experiences.’
Roger Benson, Cloud & Mobility Multinational Sales Director, Intel EMEA
‘This book hits a powerful nerve in our world of change. Kaiser, Pich and Schecter brilliantly show how to transform into a top manager by not only managing the business, but also managing others, and, perhaps most crucially, managing oneself.’
Lutz Finger, Director of Data Science & Engineering, LinkedIn
‘Becoming a Top Manager is critical reading for those transitioning to general management or seeking to do so. The stories of the three fictional GMs allow one to really experience the transformation, supported by a unique combination of insights and acumen from the authors and their former students – and all built upon the fundamental objective of creating value.’
Ross Evans, Group Manager, Exploration Appraisal & Development, Origin
‘Becoming a Top Manager is a witty, thorough, no-nonsense guide to the tough reality of managing a business, managing others and – most difficult of all – managing oneself. In the journeys of these three fictional GMs, you will surely spot yourself more than once. Keep this book handy!’
Laura Nemaric, Head of Corporate Treasury & Insurance Asia, Solvay
‘Integrating the experiences of many who have attended their programs, Kaiser, Pich and Schecter explain, in a practical and relatable way, how to tackle the key challenges managers in transition must inevitably confront. By introducing three fictitious managers on similar journeys, the authors have devised an unforgettable tool for offering wisdom, flagging pitfalls and enabling success in the next phase of your professional career.’
Arnaud van Oers, CFO, IHC Asia Pacific
‘Many books have been written on leadership development and transition, usually with a topical dissection of the attributes that need to be modified, changed or improved. Most of these books lack a regard for the intangible realities of operating as a leader, particularly concerning the struggles in learning how to elevate one's horizon, consider value to the company before the department and forget about what one learned as a functional expert.
