'A compelling guide for leaders grappling with the pandemic' Financial Times

'A remarkable book telling business leaders what to do when disaster strikes' The Times

AN INSPIRING STORY OF RESILIENT LEADERSHIP IN THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES


Louai Al Roumani was head of finance and planning at one of the largest banks in Syria, when the war broke out in 2011.

In Lessons from a Warzone, Al Roumani shares his very personal account of coping with the day-to-day realities of leading an organization in dangerous and hostile conditions. His story shows how inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of places - from the timeless wisdom of merchants in ancient souks to the changing patterns of military checkpoints. During that time, not only did the bank remain robust when others faltered - it thrived and became the undisputed leading bank as people's trust in its capability to safeguard their life-long savings strengthened.

In this book, Al Roumani distils the knowledge and skills he and his colleagues developed while steering the bank through four impossible years into ten lessons applicable to any leader facing a crisis today. His valuable, and often counterintuitive, advice - ranging from resisting over-planning to hacking your own IT department to cutting costs (but not morale) - will help anyone understand how to be resilient even in the most challenging of times.

A unique approach to crisis management and resilience, based on hands-on experience managing the largest bank in Syria in the midst of its devastating war.


About the Author
Louai Al Roumani was the head of finance and planning at Banque Bemo Saudi Fransi (BBSF), the largest privately-owned bank in Syria when the conflict broke out in 2011. He has over 14 years' experience in various finance and strategic planning roles across the Middle East and UK. Louai studied in Beirut and Boston and now lives in London with his wife and works for UNICEF UK as Finance Business Partner.

Reviews
A remarkable book telling business leaders what to do when disaster strikes * The Times *
A compelling guide for leaders grappling with the pandemic... the lessons in resilient leadership in turbulent times that Roumani offers are universal. -- Pilita Clark, Financial Times
Contains powerful lessons about resilience that show how companies can come out of crises better and stronger if they focus on long-term opportunities, no matter how tough it gets in the short term * Ana Botin, Executive chair, Banco Santander *
This man steered his bank through four years of a hellish civil war - and the lessons he learnt will benefit us all. It not only makes every other book on crisis management feel like Harry Potter, but also offers an inadvertently timely guide for those of us living through a different kind of crisis. -- Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland
Don't read this book just for the business lessons. It is a powerful tale of the resilience of a man and a society in the face of enormous threat and massive upheaval. -- Tom Hayhoe, Chairman of West London NHS Trust
I'm personally - and professionally - grateful to Louai Al Roumani for writing this book. I hope I never have to live and work in a Warzone, but when we face crises in our lives and our businesses there are useful emotional and practical lessons there is huge value in reading the heartfelt and honest experiences of others. I recommend this book with a grateful heart * Antony Mayfield. CEO and co-founder of Brilliant Noise *



Book Information
ISBN 9780241404850
Author Louai Al Roumani
Format Hardback
Page Count 192
Imprint Portfolio Penguin
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 386g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 162mm * 22mm