Elizabeth I CEO: Strategic Lessons from the Leader Who Built an Empire

Written by Alan Axelrod

Narrated by Nelson Runger

Alan Axelrod is a Business Week best-selling author. A respected authority on business and management topics, he has also written works of historical biography. In Elizabeth I CEO, his varied skills converge to produce an important book that is both informative and entertaining. When Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1558, England was the laughing stock of Europe. Economic, political, and religious calamities were numerous, and Elizabeth endured constant criticism. But by the end of her 45-year reign, England was one of the world's mightiest nations. Axelrod uses the legendary Queen's life as a model for modern leadership, and a powerful example of how one person can make an extraordinary difference. Elizabeth I CEO is an indispensable guide for today's business managers and leaders. It is also an inspiring read for those taking their first steps up the corporate ladder, or those who simply love history. Nelson Runger's narration gives a renewed energy to Elizabeth's lessons, which are as relevant today as they were four centuries ago.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781501982705

Alan Axelrod

Historian Alan Axelrod is the author of the business bestsellers Patton on Leadership and Elizabeth I, CEO, the Great Generals series books Patton, Bradley, and Marshall, and many books on American and military history. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reviews for Elizabeth I CEO

[varielle_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent treatise on leadership. Written in short snippets this details the philosophy and strategies used by Elizabeth I in surviving her family and maintaining a successful rule. Her knack for leading and protecting is still applicable today.

[jbarringer-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected to. Some of the 'lessons' were a bit of a stretch, or too repetitive, and at times the storytelling sort of took over to the point where the leadership lessons seemed of secondary importance, but the storytelling is quite good. I was more inclined to learn the 'don't piss off the Queen' lesson rather than the 'use your subordinates according to their strengths and don't over-supervise them' message from the bit near the end about King Phillip of Spain versus Queen Elizabeth's pet pirate. My biggest criticism of this book is that it assumes frequently that there is only one right leadership style, when in business and other situations where leadership skills are called for, different circumstances demand different sorts of leaders.Still, this was an enjoyable read with some useful reminders on effective people skills that work for non-leaders as well.