Mother Teresa, CEO

Unexpected Principles for Practical Leadership

By: Ruma Bose, Louis Faust III

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

When most people think of Mother Teresa, they think of a saint - a spiritual hero of extraordinary humanitarian accomplishments, a Nobel Peace Prize winner. But Mother Teresa was also the leader of one of the world's largest and most successful organizations: the Missionaries of Charity. Since founding it in 1948, she raised millions of dollars and, with over a million volunteers in more than 100 countries, it remains one of the most recognized brands in the world. How did one nun who never received any formal education in business build such an impressive global organization? Frank, realistic, and firmly grounded in practicality, Mother Teresa's leadership style helped to inspire and organize people across the world.

This book shares 10 essential leadership principles drawn from Mother Teresa's example and applies them to today's business world. Authors Ruma Bose, an entrepreneur who volunteered with Mother Teresa, and Lou Faust, a leading business expert, are the first to examine her in this light - as a leader whose management style and dedication to a singular vision led to one of the world's most unlikely success stories.

Mother Teresa may have been a saint, but her spectacular success was not a product of divine providence. Her genius was in the simplicity of her vision and her dedication to its implementation. It was in the way she treated her people, refusing to distance herself from the everyday work of a typical sister of the Missionaries of Charity. It was in how she handled tough choices, like accepting donations from brutal Haitian dictator Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier. These were the principles that made her the great leader of a global organization, and they can be applied by anyone in any organization - no sainthood required.

©2011 Ruma Bose and Louis Faust III (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"I have always regarded Mother Teresa as one of my role models because she understood and demonstrated through her own being that real leadership comes from the soul. This exploration of Mother Teresa’s deep well of compassion, dignity, empathy, and love is a profound meditation on what it means to be a real leader." (Deepak Chopra)

"Ruma Bose’s and Lou Faust’s perspective on the iconic Mother Teresa’s unique leadership skills is nothing short of a revelation. Having started my career in the social services world, I found that some of the best business managers hail from that world, with Mother Teresa certainly a leading example. I found myself nodding and “uh-huhing” as I recognized the simple but powerful lessons that Mother Teresa’s eight principles can teach us all. Simply extraordinary." (Jim McCann, founder and CEO, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and Celebrations.com)

Good listen

Simple concepts every business should know. Not as boring as the free sample - this book flows and keeps your attention.

Inspirational book

Taught me about leadership,,how a simple dream that ended up in world larger enterprise over 134 countries..
"She lived the value she preached"