Synopses & Reviews
The world has many obvious leaders, such as CEOs and heads of state, but the world also depends on leaders who are not so obvious - the "unknown leaders." They fill crucial roles at every level of an organization and produce results that don't receive much publicity, but they deserve just as much recognition as famous leaders.
The Unknown Leader is a positive examination of the importance and impact of the leaders behind the scenes in every organization.
Sheikh Hussein Al-Banawi, chairman of the Banawi Industrial Group in Saudi Arabia, places leadership in the context of the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region in the early twenty-first century, a time of enormous change and challenge. He analyzes the progressive leadership needed by business and society in the Middle East and how the lessons learned can be applied to business on a global scale.
The Unknown Leader includes interviews with leaders in the Middle East such as: Nabil Alyousef, former director general of the executive office of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, ruler of Dubai and Dr. Haifa Jamal Al-Leel, president of Effat University, Saudi Arabia's first private university for women. This book celebrates these unknown leaders and introduces a new model of leadership - leadership that is not about chasing fame or glory but about contributing to a better society and living a satisfying life.
Review
"In The Unknown Leader Hussein Al-Banawi talks of leadership as a journey and that each one of us can express leadership. [The book] is encouraging and written by a talented, humble person who recognises that none of us get things right every time but that by reflecting and learning we can achieve whatever we set out to achieve. I recommend this to every person starting their careers in whatever field because it is leadership that will enable them to be successful." Hilarie Owen
Review
"The Unknown Leader is undoubtedly the best and most sincere and authentic self-help book written by a Saudi. Hussein Al-Banawis mission is to pay tribute to the unknown leaders everywhere with the hope of inspiring some of us to become one. In this book, Al-Banawi offers some insights and ideas for those who aspire to join the next generation of leaders in the Middle East and around the world. He also describes a new model of leadership that is not about chasing fame or glory but about contributing to a better society; not about accumulating wealth but about living a satisfying life; not about winning every contest but about venturing and taking risks in pursuit of excellence." CEO of the Institute of Leadership
Review
Analysis of what makes a great leader and insights for those who aspire to join the next generation of leaders Lisa Kaaki - Arab News
Review
"The Unknown Leader is full of lots of practical advice and many compelling examples, making it a good guide to an alternative philosophy on effective leadership." Director Publications Limited - Director.co.uk
Review
Aspiring leaders, young professionals, college graduates Jeffrey H Singer - CEO, Dubai International Financial Centre Authority
Synopsis
Our world has many obvious leaders: captains of industry, high-achieving academics, CEOs, statesmen, champion athletes. But we also depend on leaders whose work is usually not so visible. They are all around us, filling crucial roles at every level of society, in all kinds of organizations and in our communities, enriching the lives of those around them and making the world a better place.
The Unknown Leader celebrates these leaders among us and invites you to join them. Hussein A. Al-Banawi shares the inspiring stories of some of today's Unknown Leaders and shows how they discovered their hidden talents through hard work, reflection and continual learning. He also recounts his own lifelong journey toward leadership and the invaluable lessons he gained from unusual friendships, daunting challenges, tough decisions, victories and defeats. And Al-Banawi explains the six crucial qualities every aspiring leader must develop, with specific advice about how to enhance these qualities in yourself.
Whether you are a student, a mid-career professional, an entrepreneur, or anyone seeking a richer and fulfilling life, The Unknown Leader will be a powerful guide and companion in your own lifelong journey.
Synopsis
“Sheikh Hussein A. Al-Banawi captures timeless leadership principles and provides practical examples of how these principles can be implemented across cultures and countries. What makes this book credible is that Sheikh Hussein has implemented these principles in his companies and in his home; he leads from the front by example. This book should be required reading for anyone who wants to sharpen their leadership abilities.”
About the Author
Hussein A. Al-Banawi is Chairman & CEO of The Banawi Industrial Group, one of the leading business groups in Saudi Arabia. B.I.G is a manufacturing concern in specialty chemicals, packaging and food flavors with activities throughout the Middle East and Africa. He is an inspirational leader dedicated to creating the next set of leaders in the Arab World. He is Founder of the Chair in Islamic Economics, Finance and Management at Rice University in Houston, Texas; a member of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of the World Waqf Foundation of the Islamic Development Bank. He also serves on the board of various civic organizations. He also launched the Gerhart Centre for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement.
Table of Contents
Part One
Responding to your personal leadership challenge
1 Discovering the Unknown Leader
2 What's your story? Beginning your journey of self-discovery
3 The art of reflection, and other keys for the journey
4 The six qualities of a true leader
5 Don't hold back! Engaging with the world
6 Faith: the shelter or the mind
Part Two
Developing leadership in motion
7 The making of a global leader
8 The art of nurturing leaders
9 The mind knows no gender: the emerging promise of female leadership
10 The challenge of the Arab Spring: toward a vibrant, entrepreneurial Middle East
Epilogue: tribute to Unknown Leaders everywhere
About the author
Acknowledgements
Index