Public Lecture – Imperial CEOs: Leadership Lessons from Six Chinese Monarchs

Can a 7th-century empress teach us how to break through the glass ceiling in the workplace? How can a 12th-century artist-emperor reveal the dangers of skills mismatch in leadership? Why did a 1st-century reformer, with ideas ahead of his time, ultimately fail? This lecture will interpret Chinese history from an unconventional perspective: viewing emperors as "CEOs", managing vast organizations, formulating strategies, appointing talent, and ultimately bearing responsibility for success or failure. The lecture will be held in English.