Comebacks: Powerful Lessons from Leaders Who Endured Setbacks and Recaptured Success on Their Terms

COMEBACKS (Jossey-Bass; $27.95; May 2010) by Andrea Redmond and Patricia Crisafulli profiles ten influential business leaders who suffered a public fall from the pinnacle of their careers, often in the midst of extreme media scrutiny. 

The leaders, many of them CEOs, often endured devastating setbacks to their careers and the emotional upheaval that followed—including feelings of vulnerability, embarrassment, and public humiliation.  Through resilience, self-knowledge, inner strength, and relying on close family and associates, each was able to bounce back and move on. 

“We wanted to write a book that would provide readers with the kind of introspection that enlightens and uplifts,” says Redmond, whose work with CEOs and other business leaders led her to write COMEBACKS. “The stories in COMEBACKS show the human side of the CEOs who are known mostly in the news headlines.” 

“We are so grateful to the leaders profiled for sharing their stories so candidly,” adds co-author Crisafulli, who wrote The House of Dimon (Wiley, 2009). “We hope that readers will find leadership lessons, both personal and professional, between the lines.” 

Although the “comeback” process was unique to each individual, there are similarities in their experiences: taking a step back to process what occurred, being deliberate as they moved forward,  and using leadership and lessons learned to add value in a different context—often one in which a person has more control over outcome and life choices. Regardless of where they ended up, these leaders show that a real Act II in life is possible.

Some of the high-profile leaders profiled in COMEBACKS include: 

• Jamie Dimon, who was at a peak of his career with Citigroup when he was fired as president, and is now the renowned CEO of JPMorgan Chase.
• Former Hewlett-Packard Chair Patricia Dunn, who was forced to resign and then was indicted for corporate espionage charges and while battling cancer, but was exonerated from any wrongdoing and now is active in philanthropic work.
• Former Baxter International CEO Harry Kraemer who, after 22 years at the pharmaceutical firm, had to step down after earnings growth began to slow, and is now a highly regarded business professor at Northwestern University’ Kellogg School of Management and an executive partner in a well-known private equity firm, Madison Dearborn Partners.
• Former Ford Motor Company CEO Jacques Nasser, who was forced to resign from the automaker after devoting years to the company. Later, he joined the successful private equity firm, One Equity Partners. Recently, he assumed the prestigious position of Chairman of Chairman of BHP Billiton, the world's largest natural resources company.
• Former founder and CEO of JetBlue David Neeleman who, asked to step down after a series of weather-related delays in 2007 caused an uproar among passengers and consumers, has moved on to found a new airline in Brazil.

Together, the ten profiles reveal that all leaders face adversity, but true leaders turn adversity into success—and redefine success through their leadership. Honest and soul-searching, the stories in COMEBACKS will resonate with readers who are experiencing their own reversal, are disillusioned by career choices, or are exploring other paths aligned with their values and priorities.