Gerry built a career as a leader with some of the world’s most respected firms—companies like American Express and Pfizer Inc.—where he oversaw multi-million dollar lines of business. But this was an unlikely path. Gerry’s early life was spent in poverty, in a low-income part of New York City, and as the child of a single mother. He went on to earn a B.S. in Engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the New York University Stern School of Management. Along the way, Gerry found that the adversity of his youth had given him what he needed to succeed in the corporate world; and that turning adversity into advantage is a skill he can teach others.
Our conversation with Gerry is wide-ranging and informative. We unpack critical elements of the book; we talk about fear, disruption, self-care, and taking courageous leaps. We discuss leadership and leading through disruption and change—a timely conversation for the present time. Please enjoy our conversation with Gerry Valentine.
