Preorder now
Gautam Kumra
Gautam Kumra is the chairman of McKinsey’s offices in Asia, where he is responsible for the firm’s performance and health across the region. He previously served on the McKinsey Global Shareholders Council—the firm’s highest decision-making body—and has been part of its Global Enablement Team, overseeing the execution of the firm’s strategy.
Cheryl Lim
Cheryl Lim is a partner at McKinsey. She is part of the founding leadership team of the McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence, where she helps design and deliver leadership programs for senior executives across Asia. She is also a global leader in the firm’s People and Organization Performance practice.
Joydeep Sengupta
Joydeep Sengupta is a senior partner at McKinsey, where he founded the McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence and helps CEOs and business leaders transform the performance and health of their organizations. He was previously a member of the McKinsey Global Shareholders Council and is currently the chair of the McKinsey Asia Risk Committee, as well as a member of the global client committee.
“Asia has always produced world-class builders. This book finally gives that story the global stage it deserves.”
—Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director, Reliance Industries
“This is a tremendous book on leadership, and the book is the most powerful argument I have read for why long-term thinking is not just a philosophy but a distinct competitive strategy—and Asia's founders are its greatest living practitioners.”
—Dominic Barton, chairman, Rio Tinto
“The mindsets in these pages are not just for founders—they are a masterclass in what bold, purposeful leadership looks like at any level of any organisation.”
—Piyush Gupta, former CEO and director, DBS; chairman, Keppel Ltd.
“Rare, rigorous, and genuinely inspiring—a book that decodes the mindset behind Asia's greatest business success stories and leaves every reader asking harder questions of themselves.”
—Kazuo Hirai, former chairman and CEO, Sony
“The founders in this book represent a quality of long-term thinking and institutional ambition that every global CEO—East or West—should study closely. This book uniquely captures the essence of their success.”
—Klaus Kleinfeld, former CEO, Siemens and Alcoa
“At exactly the right moment, this book gives us an exclusive and intimate look at the founders driving Asia's rise—essential reading for anyone trying to understand the new world as it is coming into view.”
—Fareed Zakaria, host and commentator, CNN
Related Insights
Mukesh Ambani’s bold ambitions: Building businesses of the future
-
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, one of India’s largest and most profitable private sector companies, discusses how clarity of goal and purpose, accompanied by the right people, can drive innovation, unlock extraordinary talent, and create impact.
Rising together: Anand Mahindra’s creative philosophy
-
Chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra, discusses how he transformed his family’s small steel trading company into a leading global, multibusiness group headquartered in India.
GULF’s Sarath Ratanavadi: Connecting vision and opportunity in Thailand
-
Founder and CEO Sarath Ratanavadi shares his approach to capturing unique opportunities at Gulf Development that help foster relationships and promote Thailand’s economy.
The Next Wow Factor: A Conversation with Sidney Lu, Chairman and CEO, Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT)
-
Sidney Lu has spent four decades building things no one thought Taiwan could build. His rule: every three years, deliver something that genuinely surprises — or risk becoming history. He isn’t done yet.
Respect above all: Narayana Murthy’s core business belief
-
Narayana Murthy, founder of Indian technology services and consulting giant, Infosys, discusses the vital role that respect and compassion play for him in being a successful business leader.
Leading by example: How Aditya Puri took HDFC Bank to the top
-
Aditya Puri, retired founder-CEO of HDFC Bank, discusses his “first among equals” leadership style that helped him get HDFC to be the largest private sector bank in India.
Dilip Shanghvi on the focus and philosophy behind Sun Pharma’s success
-
Dilip Shanghvi, chairman and managing director of Sun Pharma, discusses how India’s top pharmaceutical company has grown, adapted, and innovated to become the multinational corporation it is today.
Communication, balance, joy: How Seok Cho steered HD Hyundai Electric
-
Seok Cho, ex-CEO of HD Hyundai Electric, reflects on his approach to leadership: a harmonizer who focuses on open communication and continual questioning.
How Uday Kotak uses dreams to manage risk and build value
-
Founder and director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak, believes that common sense, an open mind, and strategic partnerships help build an institution that lasts beyond the individual.
Mazumdar-Shaw’s bold biotech mission: Affordable, accessible healthcare
-
Clarity of purpose, extraordinary people, and innovation were vital to entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw when building India’s first biotech company, now a global giant in affordable healthcare.
From family business to diversified powerhouse: A conversation with Daniel Tsai, chairman, Fubon Group
-
How Daniel Tsai transformed a family insurer into one of Asia’s most diversified — and most resilient — business empires.
Ayala Corporation: Thriving over seven generations
-
Jaime Augusto Zóbel de Ayala describes leading Ayala Corporation to grow and stay relevant while creating meaningful societal impact in the Philippines.