Each generation leads in its own way. But to progress together, they must find ways to bridge the divide between their perspectives. Recognizing that truth, a 65-year-old traditional CEO and his 35-year-old Zen entrepreneur son embark on a six-month-long, 100-mile walk. As they stroll the streets of New York and New Orleans, trek through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and hike along the Long Island coast, they talk about their experiences, their outlook on life and work, the achievements of leaders they have known, and how each views the nature and purpose of leadership. Ultimately, the two men agree on nine key traits and practices essential to all leaders -- from principles and passion to performance and even paranoia -- and on how leaders and aspiring leaders can follow them consistently. Father and son also discover a lot about each other, their relationship, and the way two generations set apart by so many differences can respect and learn from each other.
Sander Flaum is CEO of Flaum Partners, a leading healthcare consultancy focused on transformational thinking for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Additionally, Sander is adjunct Professor of Management at the Fordham Graduate School of Business where he founded and chairs the Fordham Leadership Forum. Sander chairs the American Institute for Stuttering and serves on the boards of Fordham Graduate School of Business, Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, The Monterey Institute of International Studies and The James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State Medical Center.
Prior to launching Flaum Partners in 2004, Sander was Chairman and CEO of Robert A. Becker, EuroRSCG where he led a global team of marketing strategists that introduced six blockbuster $2 billion healthcare brands. In 2002, Medical Advertising News named Sander its Man of the Year and Becker its Agency of the Year. In 2008, Sander was honored with The Ohio State University Alumni "Professional Achievement" award and in 2010 the University honored him again with its Pace Setters "Business Leadership" Award.
Before coming to the consultancy side, Sander served 18 years with Lederle Laboratories (which was merged into Wyeth and then Pfizer in 2009). During his tenure with Lederle, he served as marketing head of prescription drugs, vaccines and generic products. In all, he has directed 80 product launches and restagings.
Sander has authored over 90 articles on marketing, management, and leadership. He writes a monthly column on leadership for Medical Advertising News and the American Management Association's MWorld. Sander completed his first book in 2006, co-authored with his son Jonathon - The 100 Mile Walk: A Father and Son on a Quest to Find the Essence of Leadership (AMACOM) for which the authors were awarded the Hazan-Polsky Prize for outstanding business books. He was honored by Fordham University Business School to be its Commencement Speaker in 2001 and again in 2010.
In 2009, Sander wrote Big Shoes: How Successful Leaders Grow into New Roles to respond to the dearth of leadership accountability being evidenced around the world. His plainspoken, engaging style has helped many new leaders and managers faced with leadership challenges to think through their first 100 days on the job and the days following with an eye to building organizations and careers at which they can be proud. Amazon.com gave Sander's book a five star out of five review.
Sander received his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and earned his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University (magna cum laude).
