Product Description

Foreword by Steve Reinemund, CEO, PepsiCo

Despite decades of social progress and legal reform, minorities still face obstacles on the path to success, both internal and external, from cultural insensitivity to outright prejudice, from isolation to over-scrutiny.

Cracking the Corporate Code looks at the factors that have framed the careers of 32 African-American executives, whose accomplishments have made valuable contributions to the success of organizations ranging from Pepsi, Kraft, GE, Merrill Lynch, and Miller Brewing to Prudential, Sears, Verizon, American Express, Chrysler, and BP.

These men and women, in wide-ranging interviews, discuss what motivated them, recount sources of support and conflict, and reveal the strategies they developed to acquire and use power and to achieve undisputed corporate results.

The authors have analyzed the experiences selectively, resulting in a book that is both an inspiration and a call to action. Cracking the Corporate Code is an eye-opening and practical guide for anyone who seeks to blend professional, personal, and cultural identities into an individual formula for success.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #267325 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780814407714
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
At a time when the debate over affirmative action and quotas rages unabated, psychiatrist and management consultant Cobbs and attorney Turnock have surveyed more than 30 influential African-American executives to discuss their strategies for dealing with racial, cultural and organizational challenges. Combining strong narrative and stirring quotes from the executives, the authors tackle a number of issues, including race and gender bias in the workplace, isolation, the rules of the workplace, achievement, leadership, understanding and sharing power, competition and diversity. David Hinds, a former Deutsche Bank director, speaks of neutralizing racial prejudice at his job; Margaret Jordan, a former Kaiser v-p, addresses what she sees as the cold treatment of women employees; and veteran Salomon Brothers exec Milt Irvin explains how successful results can overcome adversity. Some contributors stress the importance of mentors, and knowing how to compete, when to focus, how to keep one's ego in check and forming an effective strategy in attaining goals. For others, the supreme achievement is acquiring enough capitalist savvy to open their own business so they can earn their fortune without the grind of corporate jockeying and gamesmanship. Happily, there are few repetitions in the opinions offered, and a lack of finger-pointing and blaming. This is a smart, memorable collection of business wisdom that should provide inspirational guidance for young African-Americans considering a career in the corporate world.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
In 1965, African Americans were almost unknown in corporate America, except as laborers or assembly-line workers. Today, more than a quarter million black Americans thrive in the upper ranks as corporate managers and executives. Yet, despite social change and legal reform, this group faces unique challenges because unspoken obstacles still exist to outsiders of this traditionally white-male-dominated club. The 32 African American senior corporate executives who are profiled here are not household names, but they have contributed to the success of top Fortune 500 companies, such as Pepsi, Kraft, GE, Merrill Lynch, American Express, and Chrysler. Rather than telling each individual's story separately, the authors devote each chapter to a common challenge that this group faces, such as "Managing Your Demons," "Fitting In," and "Understanding Power." Framed by these common threads, the subtle issues that people of color and women face every day in the workplace are revealed; these stories are an inspiration for anyone facing self-doubt and isolation in the competitive world of corporate America. David Siegfried
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"..instills positive insight for the young and often challenged executive.. -- NV magazine

"An inspirational book " -- Choice , Middletown CT

"An outstanding book! Thirty-two brilliant executives are candid,revealing and focused when sharing their triumphs, challenges and success in corporate America. -- For Your Reading Pleasure, Syndicated feature column, By Valder Beebe Author/Editor, Editors Choice-July 2003

"For young African-Americans climbing the corporate ladder, provides excellent advise[...]an excellent education in how to rise within an organization." -- Foreword

"Let me say [...] great deal from this perceptive book about power in the corporate world" -- The Beverly Hills Courier, Connie Martinson Talks Books

"Thought-provoking." -- Sacramento Business Journal, September 5, 2003

... an "outsider" in American business can learn the real competencies & mindsets that "insiders" kids learn at the dinner table. -- Joyce Lain Kennedy, Tribune Media Services

Customer Reviews

Insightful Advice for Rising [Black] Executives
Over 250 Black men and women have risen to senior positions in major corporations. Along their climb, these leaders have learned, grown, achieved, and influenced as highly effective executives. They have overcome the challenges of being Black, complicating the normally difficult path of moving up the corporate hierarchy. That's the primary story of this book. At least, that's the premise of a book subtitled "The Revealing Success Stories of 32 African-American Executives."

All that aside, I gained a lot from this book. I'm not Black. I'm not a high level executive of a major corporation. I'm a Certified Management Consultant. I help executives do a better job as leaders. To give developing executives the answers they need to succeed, I'd recommend careful reading of this book. Page after page delivers valuable lessons in a captivating way.

The design of this book is quite effective. Chapters headed Ambiguity, Managing Your Demons, Fitting In, Reading Unwritten Rules, Making Your Mark, Managing Relationships, and several aspects of power weave meaningful lessons together into a amazing package of advice. Cobbs and Turnock teach through their own words, illuminated beautifully by mentoring lessons from the 32 selected executives. The role models are liberally quoted, giving them a powerful platform to share their experiences and advice with readers. Their testimonials give so much to those who follow them.

The primary target of this book might be considered rising executives from diverse backgrounds. The demographic description goes far beyond Black men and women. Everyone can gain from this growth tool. I particularly commend it to young people in college and even in high school. You will learn, be inspired, and be freed to achieve far beyond where you ever thought you might go.

My copy of this book will be donated to the library at Hiram College, the Ohio liberal arts college that gave me the boost to achieve what I have in life. I trust it will inspire others to reach for their highest potential.

Indispensable Guide for African Americans
A Black business book classic that I recommend reading is Cracking the Corporate Code : The Revealing Success Stories of 32 African American Executives by Price M. Cobbs and Judith L. Turnock. This book delivers truth in a disarmingly no-holds
barred fashion.

The truth about advancement in the corporate world is that the unwritten, unspoken rules and values are often more important then those that are written and spoken. The challenge for African Americans is that the rules were created for and by white men.

This book receives my recommendation for both what the book does and for what it doesn't do.

The first half of the book is tough to swallow as an African American because you hear the stories of young, idealist Black men and women entering the corporate world on the heels of years of Civil Rights unrest and newly minted gains. They are pioneers in business and the business world proves to be as dangerous as the American frontier was to the pioneers that left home to settle here.

These new entrants into corporate America face abuse, back stabbing, hurt, rejection and subtle as well as outright racism. Through it all, they manage to keep a proper perspective, excel in their respective careers and prove to many in the business world that Blacks have a place at the corporate table, that we can turn a profit in the white man's world of business.

Now, these executives are stalwarts of business giving sage advice to all who will listen. The stories they tell and the advice they dispense is as invaluable as having 32 mentors unified in guiding you successfully through your career. They openly share their experiences and feelings about them at the time. Have you ever had doubts about your ability, felt persecuted and put down because of your race or have you felt the sting of subtle racism and not known what to do? They have and
they share that with you. This gives the book a sense of sincerity in its efforts to benefit the reader.

The authors teach the skills to overcome the blows to one's ego that happen to everyone but are often complicated by the color of our skin. Have you ever wondered if someone's intention to help was sincere(an honest gesture to assist) or slightly racist(you need help due to your skin color). The authors tell you the skills they developed to perceive these subtle differences.

What Cracking the Corporate Code does not do is try to provide a step by step formula to success. The book decribes the loneliness of success experienced by these Black executives, the ambiguous nature of corporate power and the reality of "unwritten rules" in every business.

The authors recognize that a cookie cutter approach will fail the reader. The real keys to success are embedded in the stories of the executives as we read about their rise to power.

As I expound on to a great extent at www.blackwealthnow.com, core sets of skills are what separate the winners from the losers in business and finance. This book recognizes that African Americans require all the skills whites need to succeed as well an additional set of skills to thrive as Black men and women in a hostile (though there has been improvement) business world.

A few of the skills learned in Cracking the Corporate Code include reading unwritten rules, playing the corporate game, building a base of supporters, cultivating a network and wielding corporate power.

32 African American executives each with decades of experience giving advice and sharing wisdom on these critical issues and more makes Cracking the Corporate Code an indispensable success guide on the bookshelves of all African Americans at any level and in any business.

I'll end here with a quote from one of the African American
executives from the book.

"None of us has gotten here on our own. We may have busted our butts, worked extremely hard, made lots of personal sacrifices, and brought some talent and ability to the table. I believe all that is true, but we didn't do it alone. We've all had people who have been there either directly or indirectly and made a difference."
Bruce Gordon, Group President, Verizon
From the book Cracking the Corporate Code
by Price M. Cobbs & Judith L. Turnock

A Must Read For All Attorneys of Color!
Reading Cracking the Corporate Code (CTCC) is like having conversations with the best mentors in the world.. When I first read it, I was in the middle of my fourth year as an associate at a major law firm in Silicon Valley. I was one of very few blacks, and I was struggling through work assignments and feeling so alienated. It was CTCC that gave me the confidence to look honestly at my law firm environment. I think every African-American lawyer should read this book!