Ann E. Dunwoody

"For a great leader, colleague, friend, or parent to be his best, he has to acknowledge his worst. Throughout my life Ive met plenty of superheroes, but the strongest and most effective among them were simply human and knew they werent perfect. They were the men and women who, like my father, believed in their duty to country and sacrificed for others without hesitation. They all had their strengths and weaknesses. They excelled at times; they stumbled at times. But the great ones always made sure they could walk tall by recognizing their own enemy within and confronting it."

"Today, particularly in terms of combating terrorism, there are no front lines. Cities and neighborhoods are the battlefields. September 11 was a harsh reminder of this new reality."

"I concluded my book Lean In with my hope that "in the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders." I did not know Ann when I wrote that, but she is exactly who I had in mind. What distinguishes Ann is not that shes a woman, but that she is a spectacular and inspiring leader."

"In this book, Ann Dunwoody writes, "A hero is an average person who has done something extraordinary. As unusual as it is to start a foreword for a book by disagreeing with its author, I have to say that I disagree with Ann. I do not believe anyone would ever describe Ann as an average person. She has certainly done many extraordinary things. And to me, she is a true hero."

"My admiration for Ann is boundless- not just because of what she achieved but how she achieved it. Anns story is the story of a true soldier. She ends every talk with this: "In the end were all just soldiers, but thats the highest thing you could claim to be." Her story- and this book- will inspire anyone who wants to serve and lead."

"Will you encourage your workers to be innovative, or will you promote an environment where the status quo is good enough? Do you have mechanisms to allow all employees to voice opinions and provide feedback without fear of retaliation? Are you accessible, or are you insulated from your people? Good leaders motivate by being seen, by communicating, by engaging, and by taking care of their employees."