Connecting the Dots: Leadership Lessons in a Start-up World

Description

Legendary Silicon Valley visionary and one of the world's greatest business leaders, John Chambers shares the playbook and philosophy that transformed Cisco into a global tech titan and now inspire a new generation of leaders. With numerous start-ups moving from zero to a billion to bankruptcy in a matter of years, it's clear that sustaining a business in the digital age is no walk in the park. Over 20 years, John Chambers transformed a company with 400 employees and one toaster-sized product (a router) into a tech giant that's the backbone of the Internet. Along the way, he's outlasted and outmaneuvered practically every rival that ever tried to take Cisco on-Nortel, Lucent, Alcatel, IBM, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard, to name a few-and turned more than 10,000 employees into millionaires, more than any company in history. When Chambers stepped down as executive chairman in December of 2017, he left a company that didn't just shape the first Internet era but is leading the next wave of innovation in areas from cyber-security to self-driving cars. Now, in collaboration with award-winning journalist Diane Brady, Chambers shares the stories and strategies that helped his company win again and again through multiple market shifts. Posing a unique mode of thought proven to attain success, the message of this book is clear; it is not the biggest or the richest players who win, but the ones who are able to stay ahead of the trend by connecting the dots. Both enlightening and practical, this is essential reading to inspire a new generation of leaders.

John Chambers joined Cisco as a senior VP of sales in 1991, becoming CEO in 1995. During his 20-year tenure, he delivered an outstanding 1600% return to shareholders while growing revenues to $47 billion from $1.2 billion. As one of the most admired leaders in tech, John has won several awards and accolades; in 2016 he received the Edison Achievement Award, was named one of the best CEOs in the world in the Harvard Business Review, and one of Time Magazine's 'Most Influential People'.

"Great leaders are distinguished by the ability to move their society or company from where it is to where it has never been. They act on the basis of a set of core principles, both intangible and inspirational. John Chambers, an accomplished executive in his own right, distills those principles in Connecting the Dots with elegance and common sense." DR. HENRY KISSINGER, former U.S. Secretary of State "If you want to learn from a master of Silicon Valley, then look no further than John Chambers. What he teaches the world's best tech startups today is captured in Connecting the Dots." MARC ANDREESSEN, general partner, Andreessen Horowitz "Over the years, I've seen John Chambers achieve the virtually impossible, and all by following his blueprint, which he finally reveals in Connecting the Dots. He has done us all a service by making it available, and the smartest thing you could do for yourself and your company is to make it your bible." MEG WHITMAN, former president and CEO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise "John Chambers shares his secrets for building and leading one of the most innovative and customer-centric companies in the world. This is an invaluable resource for any CEO, entrepreneur, or leader looking to compete in the digital age." AARON LEVIE, cofounder and CEO of Box "I've always known John Chambers to be wise, and credit him for the business ideas that helped Oracle be successful. With the brilliant insights found in Connecting the Dots, I learned even more that I plan to use. Whether it's how to learn from difficult setbacks, find your courage as a leader, focus on the customer, and so much else, this is a must-read for any business person. A very personal and incredibly engaging book!" SAFRA CATZ, CEO, Oracle