Six Paths to Leadership: Lessons from Successful Executives, Politicians, Entrepreneurs, and More

Six Paths to Leadership offers critical insights and strategies, currently missing from the repertoire of leaders and their supporters, for managing across six distinct paths into leadership positions.

The authors organize findings in two categories: 1) themes that are held in common across all paths, varying in how they manifest; and 2) the set of opportunities, challenges, and strategies that are present within each path.

Each chapter focusing on a leadership path is illustrated through the words and stories of interviewees, a set of over 65 leaders drawn from many professional paths, multiple sectors, and varied organizations, including politicians, executives, entrepreneurs, family legacy leaders, and more.

About the Authors

Mark A. Clark, Ph.D., works with established and emerging business leaders to achieve high performance through teaching, research, and business consultancy. As Associate Professor and Management Chair in the Kogod School of Business at American University, he teaches courses on leadership, organizational change, teams, and strategic human capital. His research similarly centers on leadership and team performance, investigating the effects of networks, design, culture, diversity, and human capital practices on performance in a variety of applied contexts.

Dr. Clark has published and presented over 100 scholarly papers and book chapters in top academic outlets. His ability to translate research findings into practical execution has led him to consult with a wide range of private and public sector clients over the past 30 years.

Meredith Persily Lamel, MBA, is a sought after leadership expert across the public and private sectors, supporting C-suite executives and elected members of Congress alike. She is CEO of Aspire@Work, an executive coaching and leadership consultancy based in Washington, DC and Adjunct Professor at American University’s School of Public Administration.

Persily Lamel specializes in the leadership challenges of complex, global organizations including technology, healthcare, financial services, nonprofit and government. She is regularly called upon by her clients to support the onboarding of executives into new roles.

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