How We Lead Matters: Reflections on a Life of Leadership »

Marilyn Carlson Nelson is chairman and CEO of Carlson, a global group of companies providing travel, hotel, cruise, restaurant, and marketing services, including such brands as Radisson® and Regent® hotels and resorts, Country Inns and Suites By CarlsonSM, Park Inn® and Park Plaza® hotels, Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, Carlson Wagonlit Travel®, Carlson Marketing®, and T.G.I. Friday's® restaurants.

Deborah Cundy, an assistant dean at the Carlson School of Management, has worked with Marilyn Carlson Nelson for nearly 20 years as a former vice president at Carlson and speech writer. She assisted Ms. Carlson Nelson in the founding of the Center for Integrative Leadership at the University of Minnesota.

From one of "The World's Most Powerful Women" (Forbes)
An inspiring collection of stories, insights, and profound life lessons

As a CEO, daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother, Marilyn Carlson Nelson has always put people first—a key priority in her uniquely effective philosophy of corporate leadership. How We Lead Matters combines her adventures and insights with wisdom from renowned spiritual, political, and literary figures to convey the leadership precepts behind her business, managerial, and corporate success.

From stargazing and world travel to equal rights and corporate wrongs, this thoughtful combination of professional and personal experiences is one of Carlson Nelson's proudest legacies. It is a book that will inspire you to think about how you live, how you lead, and how you can make impactful choices that create your own brand of success.

"These stories are the ones that are closest to me...life is made up of a series of days and choices, and how we lead matters."—Marilyn Carlson Nelson

Marilyn Carlson Nelson is chairman and CEO of Carlson, a global group of companies providing travel, hotel, cruise, restaurant, and marketing services, including such brands as Radisson® and Regent® hotels and resorts, Country Inns and Suites By CarlsonSM, Park Inn® and Park Plaza® hotels, Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, Carlson Wagonlit Travel®, Carlson Marketing®, and T.G.I. Friday's® restaurants.

Deborah Cundy, an assistant dean at the Carlson School of Management, has worked with Marilyn Carlson Nelson for nearly 20 years as a former vice president at Carlson and speech writer. She assisted Ms. Carlson Nelson in the founding of the Center for Integrative Leadership at the University of Minnesota.

Foreword David Gergen Gergen, David

Star Gazing 2

The Sunday School Lesson 4

As a Matter of Fact 6

Payback 8

Wanting It All 10

The Signature 12

The Times They Are A-Changin' 14

Laughter as Legacy 16

Imagine 18

When I Grow Up 20

Flying Solo 22

Security Alarm 24

I Confess 26

Gerbils for Sale 28

Power of One 30

Packing Light 32

The Dance 34

It's Time 36

Open for Business 38

A Super Sale 40

Going for Gold 42

Thanksgiving Dinner 44

Coming Together 46

The Credo 48

Love, Honor, & ? 50

Pretending for Real 52

Reporting for Duty 54

A Beer, a Brat, & the KGB 56

Lika & Tutu 58

The Long View 60

Passing the Test 62

Car Trouble 64

Temptation 66

Dear Shareholders 68

The Pause 70

Favorable Odds 72

Top Prize 74

Worth the Risk 76

A Christmas Uprising 78

Secret Ingredient 80

Something to Prove 82

Master Carver 84

Special Delivery 86

Doing My Part 88

Looking Up 90

One of a Kind 92

On the Same Day 94

Taking a Tumble 96

Humility 98

The Temples 100

In Your Dreams 102

Waiting Room Blues 104

In the Afterlife 106

Heavenly 108

Tipping Point 110

The Prediction 112

So Honored 114

Mom's Favorite 116

Gratitude 118

Coming Out of MyShell 120