Black Enterprise Lessons from the Top

PRAISE FOR LESSONS FROM THE TOP "[Lessons from the Top] challenges the vintage profile of the entrepreneur by showcasing the impressive and dynamic careers of African American executives who surmounted social, economic, and political barriers to gain their deserved place in today's world of the business elite." -Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO, NAACP "[Lessons from the Top] aptly documents the achievements of African American entrepreneurs who embody the legacy of the twentieth century and the hope of the twenty-first century. The principles espoused by these esteemed business leaders are essential to the future of the civil rights movement as we prepare our children for self-reliance and our adults for economic self-sufficiency in the next century." -Hugh B. Price, President, National Urban League Lessons from the Top profiles eleven of the most powerful and influential CEOs of the nation's largest black-owned businesses across a broad cross section of industries. These compelling and motivating stories of personal triumph and business success will surely light the way for the next generation of great African American business leaders. Don H. Barden * Emma C. Chappell * Mel Farr Sr. * Charles H. James III * John H. Johnson * Robert L. Johnson * Byron E. Lewis * Herman J. Russell * Russell Simmons * Clarence O. Smith * Percy E. Sutton

Foreword by Earl G. Graves. Introduction. The Pioneer (John H. Johnson). The Brand Master (Robert L. Johnson). The Salesman (Clarence O. Smith). The Hip-Hopreneur (Russell Simmons). Mr. Madison Avenue (Byron E. Lewis). The Superstar (Mel Farr, Sr.). The People's Banker (Emma C. Chappell). The Builder (Herman J. Russell). The Strategist (Charles H. James III). The Politician (Percy E. Sutton). The Player (Don H. Barden). Acknowledgments. Index.