The Gumbo Coalition: 10 Leadership Lessons That Help You Inspire, Unite, and Achieve

by Marc Morial, Magic Johnson (With), Sheryl Sandberg (Foreword by), James Shippey (Read by)

Overview

Learn key lessons on diversity and inclusion from front-line expert Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League and former mayor of New Orleans.

Marc Morial knew his calling from a young age was to be a leader in the fight for meaningful change. Growing up in the segregated South and helping his father realize an incredible victory as the first African American mayor of New Orleans, Morial was shown that significant change is possible.

Less than two decades later in his own mayoral race in New Orleans, Morial built what he christened the “Gumbo Coalition,” an incredible mixture of all of New Orleans’s ingredients—African Americans, Whites, Latinos, Asians, business leaders, grassroots community activists, business leaders, clergy, and more. Each ingredient brought its own flavor, creating a dish that was able to reduce crime and rebuild New Orleans’s reputation with such power that the city successfully attracted an NBA franchise, multiple Super Bowls, and the Essence Festival, the largest African American event in the nation.

Now, Morial fights on behalf of the National Urban League to create a community with a voice so strong that nothing can stand in the way of change. He is ready to teach others what he has learned along the way, by showing readers what it means to be a leader who can unite voices and create meaningful change.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781799731481
Publisher:	HarperCollins Focus
Publication date:	05/05/2020
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Marc Morial is a former second-generation New Orleans mayor who oversaw many improvements during his terms, including crime reduction, police reform, and the passing of a significant bond issue.

In May 2003, Morial was appointed president and CEO of the National Urban League. Since that appointment, Morial’s Empowerment Agenda has worked to reenergize the League’s diverse constituencies; to build on the strength of its nearly one-hundred-year-old legacy; and to increase its profile both locally and nationally.

Table of Contents

Foreword Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xv

Section 1 The Kid Who Would Be Mayor 1

Chapter 1 Speed Means Nothing Without Direction: A Leader Must Get Off to a Fast Start with a Solid Plan 11

Chapter 2 A Wise Man Changes, a Fool Never: A Leader Recognizes When to Modify the Plan 29

Chapter 3 With One Canoe, We Can Avoid the Waterfall: A Leader Understands the Value of Building Consensus 47

Section 2 "Senator, I Call Them People" 61

Chapter 4 They're Not Refugees, Dammit: A Leader Shows Strength through Compassion 69

Chapter 5 Know When to Hold 'Em, Know When to Fold 'Em: A Leader Is Skilled at Decision-Making Under Pressure 87

Chapter 6 Get Ready for the Big Payback: A Leader Is Not Paralyzed by the Unexpected 101

Section 3 The Ditch 113

Chapter 7 Ants versus Crabs: A Leader Knows When to Lead and When to Follow 119

Chapter 8 Working the Room: A Leader Builds Networks with Intention 135

Section 4 A Knock on the Door 149

Chapter 9 Persistence Is Always a Winning Formula: A Leader Fights through Disappointments to Achieve Victory 157

Chapter 10 Innovation Requires Seeing New Paths: A Leader Must Seek New Ways to Solve Old Problems 169

Chapter 11 Now We Got Gumbo 179

Afterword Earvin "Magic" Johnson 187

Notes 191

Index 195

About the Author 206

About the Editor 206

Editorial Reviews

'In The Gumbo Coalition, Marc doesn't treat diversity as just a buzzword or a bothersome hurdle as many companies or leaders begrudgingly do. Marc exalts in diversity (gumbo) as a source of great strength, growth potential, and dynamic innovations—and as an imperative for leaders to embrace and actively cultivate if they want to achieve success.'

NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Magic Johnson

'When Marc talks about building coalitions to successfully meet challenges, he's not only talking theory; he's sharing with readers what he's practiced his entire life.'

MasterCard General Counsel Tim Murphy

'Marc Morial is a star of strategy and execution. The Gumbo Coalition, a deeply personal, easy read, brings alive the generational wisdom that lives in the heart and soul of one of the most admired leaders of our time. A winning recipe for achievement, it illuminates behaviors that get in our way and demonstrates that you never have to sacrifice your soul to succeed in building on any front. This is a book that will help you thrive, save you time, money and heartache. I wish I had it at the beginning my career.'

Susan L. Taylor

'The Gumbo Coalition is outstanding, and it's outstanding in ways I didn't expect. The book is a fascinating political memoir, it's also something more: a leadership manual, complete with checklists, tips, and pitfalls to avoid. Marc writes about how to increase your collective power by building consensus, how vital it is to communicate your vision to your team at every step, and how networking done right is about building purposeful and intentional relationships for the common good. To my mind, that makes The Gumbo Coalition essential reading for people across all sectors—especially business leaders.'

Facebook COO and New York Times bestselling author Sheryl Sandberg

'As witness and participant to Marc Morial's gumbo skills over many years his actions speak loudly alongside his words. The combination wins the outcomes that are Marc's leadership hallmarks. To see him in action is to see his embrace of the youngest, least certain to the oldest, most experienced; to feel his strength building momentum tempered by his compassion for all, including those with differences; to witness his respect for each person in his presence and their desire to be encouraged and emboldened by his deeds and assurances. His story and leadership benefit us all.' - John Hofmeister fmr CEO of Shell Oil

From the Publisher