Zenobia: The Curious Book of Business: A Tale of Triumph Over Yes-Men, Cynics, Hedgers, and Other Corporate Killjoys [Hardcover]

Matthew Emmens (Author), Beth Kephart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

Zenobia--a former industry giant that is bedeviled by paralyzing hierarchies, grossly inadequate communications, and distrust--is a broken place. Zenobia is a fortress doomed to collapse upon itself. Enter Moira, who has responded to a help wanted ad and seeks to find a given office, Room 133A. As she moves through the Zenobian maze, Moira makes some surprising discoveries about the power of teamwork, the role of the imagination, and the qualities that define true leaders. Her story is complemented and deepened by the story of a long-time Zenobia employee named Gallagher, the man who issued the help wanted ad and who watches, and comments, as Moira makes her way to the ever-elusive Room 133A. This unusual book will move readers to take a fresh and fearless look at their own organizations and imagine what they could be, always keeping in mind that, as the want ad Moira answers puts it, "creative persistence a prerequisite."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. A business fable in the tradition of Who Moved My Cheese?, but more closely akin to Alice in Wonderland, this work from pharmaceuticals CEO Emmens and poet-novelist-journalist Kephart (Flow: The Life and Times of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River) concerns a topsy-turvy organization which should prove oddly familiar for anyone who's worked in a corporate environment. Our heroine, Moira, is a newcomer to the once-respected Zenobia company, now in physical and psychological disrepair. Without signs or helpers, Moira must navigate the bizarre office layout ("countless drab-green cubicles, like so many Brussels sprouts attached to a stalk"), overcome the entrenched mindset ("We excel at the familiar") and find the elusive Room 133A, where she's been summoned to help the flagging enterprise. Emphasizing the power of imagination, innovation, people and possibility, Emmens and Kephart's tale of against-the-system heroism illustrates well the intangible human resources that business-as-usual can squelch. Though it may initially strike serious-minded readers silly, this tale makes an enchanting and worthwhile trip into the rabbit hole of nonsensical corporate culture, drawing out plenty of X-ray insight into the modern workplace. Whimsical line drawings from Sulit complete what could be the most enjoyable, readable business book in recent memory.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Back Cover

Imagine

Written by the CEO of a 14 billion dollar pharmaceutical company and an award-winning author and poet, this extraordinary business fable reminds us that imagination is one of the most powerful, and most overlooked, elements of business success. Moira, an enterprising young job aspirant, wends her way through a strange, sclerotic bureaucracy, never discouraged by what is, remaining tenaciously true to her vision of what could be. In the process she inspires those she meets to help in her quest to revitalize the once-mighty but now moribund Zenobia corporation.

"What leads an organization to greatness is often very different from what enables it to continue to grow and develop. Zenobia shows us the essence of what it takes for a company to change. It tells a story that matters for leaders at all levels."
--Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There

"Zenobia illustrates what real change leaders do -- scale walls, inspire new conversations, find ways to have influence out of all proportion to their authority. It is a very human fable about a very important subject."
--Jon Katzenbach, Founder and Senior Partner, Katzenbach Partners and author of Real Change Leaders and The Wisdom of Teams

"Moira's winding, challenging trip through Zenobia's halls and floors represents an amazing adventure. Her climb to the elusive Room 133A was achieved with courage, creativity, grit and willingness to take risks - the very traits that Matt has demonstrated as the incredibly successful leader of Atra Merck, EMD and Shire."
-- Ed Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania

"There's nothing like a good story to inspire, teach, fire up imagination, and stir your spirit. Zenobia is a fine story that does all this and more. It's rather like Alice in Wonderland meets The One Minute Manager -- full of surprise and delight!"
--BJ Gallagher, coauthor of A Peacock in the Land of Penguins and YES Lives in the Land of NO

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 100 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576754782
• ISBN-13: 978-1576754788
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,406,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seeing business with new eyes, March 3, 2008

By 

Niko Canner (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zenobia: The Curious Book of Business: A Tale of Triumph Over Yes-Men, Cynics, Hedgers, and Other Corporate Killjoys (Hardcover)

I've had the good fortune to hear Matt Emmens talk about the lessons he's learned as a leader in many companies and most recently as CEO of Shire Pharmaceuticals. He's distilled his wisdom & experience into a magical fable of what it is like to see business through new eyes, and how the traditions & emotions that harden some companies into places they never meant to be can be overcome by leadership that dares to try what is obvious & necessary, whatever resistance may stand in the way. It would be a great book to give to new hires to encourage them to tell the truth about what they see to management. It is an equally great book for senior leaders to think about what they would need to cultivate "beginner's mind" in what they do, and as a result to lead better and more fully. Beautifully illustrated, lovingly written & a pleasure on the whole.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Business Tale, January 20, 2008

By 

nettie hartsock "nettie" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zenobia: The Curious Book of Business: A Tale of Triumph Over Yes-Men, Cynics, Hedgers, and Other Corporate Killjoys (Hardcover)

This book should reside on everyone's shelf in the corporate world and is a stunningly illustrated fable in terms of how business can often become mired in "No's" instead of "Yes's" and how one brave woman overcomes and triumphs. Fantastic read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A business book that's fun to read. . ., January 14, 2008

By 

M. Millard (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zenobia: The Curious Book of Business: A Tale of Triumph Over Yes-Men, Cynics, Hedgers, and Other Corporate Killjoys (Hardcover)

The reviews are right on. This is a compelling and entertaining business fable. Most people will probably recognize a bit of themselves or their company in this book. Zenobia is a refreshing change from those books that look like a good idea but you can only stand to read the first two chapters. It's a quick read and an exciting tale, which makes it accessible to everyone. And the messages about taking risks and embracing change stick with you. Moira's tale is even more memorable because of the beautiful language and fabulous illustrations that accompany it. Getting to Room 133A was truly a welcome and worthwhile adventure!