Harvey: Quo vadis leadership, Sheelagh?

Sheelagh: You're just asking that 'cause you know I'm a big fan of Hannibal's leadership and the Romans finally got him.

Harvey: Yeah, I know, old question. But do you have some new answers?

Sheelagh: Well, I have some fresh takes on old answers. Try me.

And he did!

Harvey, a management columnist, and Sheelagh, a retired CEO and board member, have never met but through emails share what they have learned over the years while challenging conventional wisdom on notions of ambition, success, ethics, getting communication right, gender at work, and legacy.

Their volleys back and forth are unusual for a business book; two different minds grappling with issues of modern leadership, disagreeing as often as they agree, prodding each other to move beyond simple truths and over-used arguments to find illumination and greater understanding for themselves and readers.

The email exchanges make it a great book for dipping in and out. AND you'll encounter some interesting people along the way.