Advanced Praise

Riding The Tiger should be required reading for any leader facing a challenge. From an actual nightmare business scenario the authors have distilled leadership lessons that are not only indispensible during emergencies, but also enlightening and inspiring in any time. This book has the unmistakable stamp of wisdom and authenticity. It will help leaders navigate through the bewildering labyrinth of crisis with greater poise and self-assurance.

Roger Nierenberg
Creator of The Music Paradigm
Author of Maestro: A Surprising Story About Leading By Listening

The tougher times get, the greater the need for the stability that comes from investing in your people. As Priscilla Nelson and Ed Cohen describe in this illuminating book, if you lead by helping others to learn, it results in a substantial return for each employee and for the organization."

Tom Rath
Author of the #1 bestseller StrengthsFinder 2.0

“Riding the Tiger is a roaring good read. Priscilla Nelson and Ed Cohen take us on an extraordinary adventure of organizational renewal. This timely book is filled with emotionally compelling stories, practical tools and techniques, and wise counsel learned from direct involvement in one of the most stunning cases ever of corporate demise and resurrection. This is a rare chronicle of resilience, initiative, learning, and recovery. Buy this book now, read it immediately, and keep it within arms reach. You will thank yourself the next time you come face to face with adversity.”

Jim Kouzes
Coauthor of the bestselling The Leadership Challenge
Dean’s Executive Professor of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University

I’m a huge fan of actionable checklists. They work. This book not only explains what to do for organizations in serious crisis, but the principles are equally valuable for every business in good times and bad times."

Jack Zenger
CEO of Zenger|Folkman
Co-author of best-selling The Extraordinary Leader and The Inspiring Leader.

Priscilla and Ed have indeed “been there” and “done that.” Each chapter authentically delivers tips and advice that leaders can put into practice immediately. They give us the benefit of their hindsight and insight as they enable us to have more leadership foresight.

Beverly Kaye
Founder/CEO: Career Systems International
Co-author: Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em: Getting Good People to Stay

While presented in the context of extreme crisis, the insights and advice that Priscilla Nelson and Ed Cohen share are widely applicable. Accordingly, Riding the Tiger is a valuable resource for any leader looking to be equally prepared for both unforeseen catastrophes as well as everyday hurdles.

Michael Rosenthal
CEO, Consensus: Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Communication

A fascinating and practical look inside a company that was able to show us how to convert crisis and turmoil into hope and direction through it emphasis on building strong leaders and organizational capability.

Ed Betof Ed.D.
Senior Fellow, University of Pennsylvania’s Program in Workplace Learning Leadership

While many books focus on successful organizations and winning moves, Riding the Tiger is a refreshing and masterful piece of work which distills lessons from the traumatic fall of a great enterprise in the form. Few people in the world have propounded on leadership and organizational improvement in a compelling and systematic way as Priscilla Nelson and Ed Cohen.

Tan Yinglan
Author, The Way Of The VC – Top Venture Capitalists On Your Board

A smooth sea never makes a good sailor. Turbulence is essential to build character and strengthen resolve. Every organization and individual will have their moments of riding the tiger. How you manage in these times, leading with a clear focus and with integrity is essential. Reading this book was enriching, educating and entertaining. A must read for every business leader.

Mukesh Aghi Ph.D.
Chairman & CEO, Steria India

Riding the Tiger is a terrific read for any leader who is challenged to navigate their organization through a time of turbulence. In the new age of the anti-heroes in this economy, Priscilla Nelson and Ed Cohen provide sensitive insight and give practical steps to regain hope for the future. They are among the most inspiring leaders I’ve met. When you read this book you will walk in the perceptive footsteps of remarkable leaders who help define tomorrow’s business.

Barbara Singer Cheng
President & CEO, Executive Core

I have had the privilege of working with Ed Cohen at Booz Allen Hamilton and both Ed and Priscilla at Satyam. They put tremendous energy, passion, and talent into learning and development. Riding the Tiger details their use of leading through learning at a point of crisis in Satyam. I recommend the lessons from this book not only for handling crisis in a corporation, but more importantly, handling the changes that all corporations have to deal with every year.

Bill Thoet
Senior Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton

Rarely does a book come along that is as useful as Riding the Tiger. Ed and Priscilla have turned their turbulent experiences into a realistic how-to guide for the rest of us. They show how to move from crisis to credibility of leadership; from pain to passion for the brand; and from scandal to renewed success. Using their practical experiences as the basis, they share action item lists, introduce a new vocabulary, suggest questions to ask, and present a plan to move boldly forward from chaos to confidence. This is not a book to be read, but one to put into action, especially when you are riding your own tiger.

Elaine Biech
Author of The Business of Consulting and Thriving Through Change

An amazing story and set of useful tools demonstrating the value of leading through learning in times of crisis. While we don’t seek the kind of challenge the authors faced, the “lights on” strategy is an inspiration and instructive for all.

Kevin D. Wilde
VP Organization Effectiveness and Chief Learning Officer, General Mills; CLO Magazine’s 2007 Chief Learning Officer of the Year.

“Riding the Tiger” provides unique insights and perspective about how to leverage leadership for maximum organizational value. This book is a real-world compelling account about the lessons learned from leading during crisis. The experiences and advice shared in this book are critical for business professionals in any industry.

Tamar Elkeles, Ph.D.
Vice President, Learning and Organization Development
Qualcomm

Riding the Tiger is a unique book and Ed and Priscilla are the perfect people to write it. Two people with a life-long dedication to leadership and learning used all their experience and skills to meet the ultimate business challenge. It’s a very exciting read with hundreds of practical tips.

Marty Seldman, Ph.D.
Author of Executive Stamina and Wall Street Journal best seller Survival of the Savvy: High-Integrity Political Tactics for Career and Company Success

To be faced with a crisis the magnitude of what Satyam dealt with and then one year later to be reborn and vibrant in a new avatar speaks volumes about the value of a strong leadership culture. This resilience is the result of years of painstakingly implemented leadership development strategies which were spearheaded by teams led by Ed Cohen in which Priscilla Nelson was also a highly influential senior leader. As a beneficiary of the leadership techniques covered in this book, I believe they are a must for all who aspire to succeed in today’s world.

Venkatesh Roddam
Director, VenSat Tech India – former CEO at Satyam BPO