Lessons from a Warzone: How to be a Resilient Leader in Times of Crisis

Description

A new approach to business strategy in difficult times from a conflict like no other A STORY OF HOPE, PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCE IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS Louai Al Roumani was head of finance and planning at one of the largest banks in Syria when the war broke out in 2011. In Lessons from a Warzone, Al Roumani shares his very personal account of coping with the day-to-day realities of leading an organization in dangerous and hostile conditions. His story shows how inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of places, and how a business can not only survive in chaos, but can learn to thrive - the bank became the undisputed sector leader as people's trust in its capability to protect their life-long savings strengthened. In this book, Al Roumani distils the knowledge and skills he and his colleagues developed while steering the bank through four impossible years into ten lessons applicable to any leader facing a crisis today. His valuable and often counterintuitive advice will help anyone understand how to be resilient even in the most challenging of times.

Louai Al Roumani was the head of finance and planning at Banque Bemo Saudi Fransi (BBSF), the largest privately-owned bank in Syria when the conflict broke out in 2011. He has over 14 years' experience in various finance and strategic planning roles across the Middle East and UK. Louai studied in Beirut and Boston and now lives in London with his wife and works for UNICEF UK as Finance Business Partner.

A remarkable book telling business leaders what to do when disaster strikes * The Times * A compelling guide for leaders grappling with the pandemic... the lessons in resilient leadership in turbulent times that Roumani offers are universal. -- Pilita Clark, Financial Times Contains powerful lessons about resilience that show how companies can come out of crises better and stronger if they focus on long-term opportunities, no matter how tough it gets in the short term * Ana Botin, Executive chair, Banco Santander * This man steered his bank through four years of a hellish civil war - and the lessons he learnt will benefit us all. It not only makes every other book on crisis management feel like Harry Potter, but also offers an inadvertently timely guide for those of us living through a different kind of crisis. -- Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland Don't read this book just for the business lessons. It is a powerful tale of the resilience of a man and a society in the face of enormous threat and massive upheaval. -- Tom Hayhoe, Chairman of West London NHS Trust I'm personally - and professionally - grateful to Louai Al Roumani for writing this book. I hope I never have to live and work in a Warzone, but when we face crises in our lives and our businesses there are useful emotional and practical lessons there is huge value in reading the heartfelt and honest experiences of others. I recommend this book with a grateful heart * Antony Mayfield. CEO and co-founder of Brilliant Noise *