Strategy: Conversations with Napoleon over a Beer

What if a seasoned management consultant, passionate about history and strategy, were to meet Napoleon— not on the battlefield, but in a London pub? From this imaginative encounter emerges a series of reflections on how military strategy and generalship can illuminate modern management.

In this fictional yet historically grounded setting, Napoleon—master strategist, revered by some as a hero and reviled by others as a tyrant—shares his thinking and demonstrates how his methods could be applied to today’s corporate world. He explores timeless questions:

• How to achieve glory and outperform the competition

• How to inspire and motivate people

• How to manage bureaucracy, the perennial challenge of modern organizations

• How to avoid the “omnipotence syndrome,” where overconfidence leads to failure

Drawing on his own experience, Napoleon also addresses the parabola of power—the rise, peak, and inevitable decline of authority—an essential lesson for CEOs and executives who must remain vigilant against hubris.

This book is written for leaders, ambitious executives, strategists, and consultants. Each will discover unexpected insights into key managerial dilemmas, with answers delivered in Napoleon’s own voice.

The format is concise, witty, and entertaining, reflecting the way Napoleon spoke, thought, and operated. At the same time, it offers a window into the author’s mindset, blending historical depth with modern relevance.