Developing Global Executives: The Lessons of International Experience

In our borderless global economy, companies must ship their executives nearly as far and wide as their products. Whether these far-flung executives soar or land with a thud may make all the difference between a successful international enterprise or a world-class failure-and it is this crucial difference that Developing Global Executives defines.

Based on a wide-ranging study of veteran global executives, leadership development experts Morgan W. McCall, Jr. and George P. Hollenbeck reveal what it takes for organizations to groom, and individuals to become, successful international executives.
The answer sounds deceptively simple: People learn to "be global" from doing global work. But therein lies a tricky distinction-what specific types of career experiences are the ones that prepare global leaders for their roles? To what extent can individuals seek out-and companies help orchestrate-these experiences?

In Developing Global Executives, leading global executives help answer these questions. Through their candid, rich, and varied stories, readers learn who global executives are, what distinguishes them from domestic leaders, and which experiences have been most critical to mastering their extremely demanding careers. In addition, these "lessons from the field" underscore the key requirements and challenges of effective leadership in a global environment: from the importance of continuous learning and the crucial role of mentors to the difficulties in overcoming "culture shock" and the warning signs of potential derailment.

Practical and far-sighted, this book offers a wealth of firsthand insights for aspiring and current international executives and the organizations that employ them.

AUTHORBIO: Morgan W. McCall, Jr., a Professor of Management and Organization at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, is the author of High Flyers: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders. He was previously the Director of Research at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina. George P. Hollenbeck is an organizational psychologist based in the Houston, Texas area. He formerly served as an HR executive with worldwide responsibility at Merrill Lynch and at Fidelity Investments, and as Senior Director, Executive Education at the Harvard Business School.

Morgan W. McCall, Jr., a Professor of Management and Organization at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, is the author of High Flyers: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders. He was previously the Director of Research at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina.