The Prepared Leader

From their unique perch at the top of two most prestigious institutions, Erika H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten provide a roadmap for leaders to help them lead through any crisis.

The next crisis might be here now, or it might be around the corner. In The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient Than Before, two history-making experts in crisis leadership—James, dean of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Wooten, president of Simmons University—forcefully argue that the time to prepare is always.

In no other time in recent history have leaders in every industry and on every continent grappled with so many changes that have independently and simultaneously undermined their ability to lead. The Prepared Leader encapsulates more than two decades of the authors’ research to convey how it has positioned them to navigate through the distinct challenges of today and tomorrow. Their insights have implications for every leader in every industry and every worker at every level.

In their fast-reading and actionable book, James and Wooten provide tools and frameworks for addressing and learning from crises, and they provide insight into what you need to know to become a Prepared Leader, including:

• The five phases of crisis management and the skills you need for each phase. They examine how the National Basketball Association and its commissioner, Adam Silver, responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Making the right decisions under pressure and how to avoid common mistakes. They reveal how Burger King CEO Jose Cil began planning for the aftermath of a crisis right in the middle of one.
• Building a crisis leadership team and how to lead one that you’ve inherited. They detail how Wonya Lucas, CEO and President of the Crown Media Family Networks, aligned and mobilized an executive team during a time of crisis.

James and Wooten argue that—in addition to people, profit, and the planet—prepared leadership should be the fourth “P” in a company’s bottom line. They bring decades of world-renowned research on crisis leadership, diversity and inclusion, management strategy, and positive leadership to the table to help leaders better prepare themselves to lead through crises—and for whatever lies around the corner.

Praise for The Prepared Leader

“A strong roadmap for how to lead during a crisis.”

—Roz Brewer, Chief Executive Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance 

“Brilliant and fast-reading… A must-read for anyone who aspires to successfully navigate a major crisis.”

—Ed Bastian, CEO, Delta Air Lines

“An informed strategy any executive can employ.”

—James Gorman, Chairman and CEO, Morgan Stanley

“An excellent playbook… The frameworks and processes … are world-class.”

—Reggie Fils-Aime, Former President and COO of Nintendo of America, and Author, Disrupting the Game: From the Bronx to the Top of Nintendo

“The Prepared Leader was written for this moment—but it stems from years of research and the personal experience of two remarkable and pathbreaking leaders.”

—Judy Samuelson, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Business & Society Program

“For leaders of organizations fighting and advocating for societal change, The Prepared Leader is an essential read….”

—Wes Moore, Bestselling Author and Former CEO, Robin Hood Foundation

“With real world examples of leaders who flourished in the crisis of COVID to those who failed spectacularly in the tectonic shift in racial justice, every chapter has something to teach us.”

—Karen Finerman, CEO & Co-founder, Metropolitan Capital Advisors

“Well-researched and actionable.”

—Ruth Porat, SVP & Chief Financial Officer, Alphabet and Google

“A practical and insightful tour through the critical elements of effective crisis management.”

—Vikram Malhotra, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, and Chair, Wharton Graduate Executive Board

“A wealth of insights and best practices that empower managers at any level to successfully navigate whatever crisis comes their way. A must-read…”

—Alex Gorsky, Executive Chairman, Johnson & Johnson 

“An indisputable blueprint of how to successfully manage, leverage, and emerge victoriously from any global crisis.”

—Carla Harris, Senior Client Advisor, Morgan Stanley, and Author, Lead to Win and Expect to Win

“I only wish The Prepared Leader had been available as we navigated the Great Financial Crisis!”

—F. William (Bill) McNabb III, Former Chairman and CEO, Vanguard Group

“Combining extensive experience and evidence, this dynamic duo has created the road map you need to prepare for the unexpected.”

—Adam Grant, “10 Books to Enrich Your Thinking”; Wharton School professor and bestselling author, Think Again