This must-read guide offers a practical and engaging introduction to the ins and outs of R&D leadership. Innovation is a two-trillion-dollar industry, and, on top of the baseline complexity faced by any manager, the R&D or Innovation leader confronts an additional set of challenges. Armed with years of experience in roles ranging from scientist to Vice President of R&D to founder of his own company to innovation career coach, Dr. Clifford L. Spiro shares his insights on a carefully curated selection of topics. This indispensable playbook covers: Building, managing, and motivating a team Setting schedules and goals Assessing and rewarding project success Working with other departments Legal and intellectual property considerations Dr. Spiro’s distinctive blend of big-picture strategic thinking and day-to-day, nitty-gritty tips (e.g., Five Great Questions For R&D Managers to Ask Every Time) is essential reading for current and aspiring R&D leaders through seasoned managers as well as anyone at an organization that has an R&D, innovation, or technology transfer component. Providing a prescriptive, in-the-trenches assessment of how to lead innovation more effectively, this book ably equips the reader to anticipate potential problems and to succeed both within the R&D department and across his or her company.

“From the Bench to the Boardroom, Michael MacDonald shares his journey from his college basketball career at Rutgers to executive positions at Xerox and Medifast. His leadership, work ethic, and persistence, which were on display every step of the way, have made him a valued member of our board at the Jimmy V Foundation.” —Mike Krzyzewski, Naismith Hall of Fame coach, Duke University “Mike holds a deep reverence and appreciation for his time at Rutgers, as well as for the opportunities that Rutgers has provided him. As a letterwinner on the Rutgers men’s basketball teams in the 1970s, Mike took his student-athlete experience and translated these learned lessons to successes in his career…. His time as a Rutgers student-athlete, alumnus, board member, donor, and father/father-in-law of three Rutgers alumni continues to leave an indelible legacy on our alma mater. I am proud to call him not only a great teammate, but an even better friend.” —Marco Battaglia, Rutgers Football All-American and Cincinnati Bengals Player “I believe the combination of an excellent education and participation in highly competitive sports programs provides invaluable preparation for life after school is over. The best sources of knowledge about the benefits of such a background are people who have been there. Mike MacDonald fits the bill. And he is particularly well suited to write about his experiences because of an amazing ability to recollect the details of his formative years. A student athlete at Rutgers, he was part of the school's then outstanding basketball team. He went on to use this and similar pre-college experiences to build an exceptional business career. That’s part of his story but those of us who know him well would add that he is the epitome of a ‘good man.’ I have seen him close up with family, friends, and others for years. He is a great husband, dad, and grandfather, kind and generous, enthusiastic, and always on the go. You will enjoy what he has to say.” —Gene Renna, Retired Senior Executive, Exxon Mobil “Mike MacDonald represents the absolute best of Rutgers University and is an inspiration to everyone on campus. From the day I met Mike, he has always made himself available to mentor, guide, and motivate both our student-athletes and our coaching staff. As an alumnus, he has given back generously and led the charge in ensuring that Rutgers continues to be a beacon of higher education. I’ve always admired his ability to juggle the roles of family man, businessman, and leader in the Rutgers community. His path from Rutgers is a shining example for student-athletes of the future. He has succeeded in every aspect of life and continues to give back to the community that molded him. To give Mike MacDonald the ultimate compliment a coach can give, simply put, he is a winner.” —Steve Pikiell, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Rutgers University

An inspirational, motivational book that chronicles Michael MacDonald’s transformation from a scholarship player at Rutgers’ high-level Division I basketball program to a highly successful executive at Xerox and then chairman and CEO of Medifast. “From the Bench to the Boardroom, Michael MacDonald shares his journey from his college basketball career at Rutgers to executive positions at Xerox and Medifast. His leadership, work ethic, and persistence, which were on display every step of the way, have made him a valued member of our board at the Jimmy V Foundation.” —Mike Krzyzewski, Naismith Hall of Fame coach, Duke University “Mike holds a deep reverence and appreciation for his time at Rutgers, as well as for the opportunities that Rutgers has provided him. As a letterwinner on the Rutgers men’s basketball teams in the 1970s, Mike took his student-athlete experience and translated these learned lessons to successes in his career…. His time as a Rutgers student-athlete, alumnus, board member, donor, and father/father-in-law of three Rutgers alumni continues to leave an indelible legacy on our alma mater. I am proud to call him not only a great teammate, but an even better friend.” —Marco Battaglia, Rutgers Football All-American and Cincinnati Bengals Player “I believe the combination of an excellent education and participation in highly competitive sports programs provides invaluable preparation for life after school is over. The best sources of knowledge about the benefits of such a background are people who have been there. Mike MacDonald fits the bill. And he is particularly well suited to write about his experiences because of an amazing ability to recollect the details of his formative years. A student athlete at Rutgers, he was part of the school's then outstanding basketball team. He went on to use this and similar pre-college experiences to build an exceptional business career. That’s part of his story but those of us who know him well would add that he is the epitome of a ‘good man.’ I have seen him close up with family, friends, and others for years. He is a great husband, dad, and grandfather, kind and generous, enthusiastic, and always on the go. You will enjoy what he has to say.” —Gene Renna, Retired Senior Executive, Exxon Mobil “Mike MacDonald represents the absolute best of Rutgers University and is an inspiration to everyone on campus. From the day I met Mike, he has always made himself available to mentor, guide, and motivate both our student-athletes and our coaching staff. As an alumnus, he has given back generously and led the charge in ensuring that Rutgers continues to be a beacon of higher education. I’ve always admired his ability to juggle the roles of family man, businessman, and leader in the Rutgers community. His path from Rutgers is a shining example for student-athletes of the future. He has succeeded in every aspect of life and continues to give back to the community that molded him. To give Mike MacDonald the ultimate compliment a coach can give, simply put, he is a winner.” —Steve Pikiell, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Rutgers University

From the CEO of the top wholesale mortgage lender in the country comes this fascinating analysis of the ways sports leadership translates into professional life Before he became president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage and took his company to the top of the game nationally, Mat Ishbia was a member of Tom Izzo's 2000 Michigan State national championship basketball team. More specifically, he was the guy at the end of the bench. But as Ishbia likes to say, "You don't have to be a captain to be a leader." Running the Corporate Offense is packed with this and other learned principles for smart, empathetic leadership based on teamwork. Ishbia shares his personal strategies and tips, such as "no-meeting Thursdays," as well as anecdotes from his playing days in East Lansing, demonstrating the universality of these practical approaches. This is an essential, accessible volume which proves that great leadership truly translates from the bench to the boardroom.

This is the remarkable story of a country boy born in Northumberland in 1920, who, following an elementary education in the counties of Northumberland and Durham, left school aged fourteen years. However by the time he retired in 1982 he was considered to be one of the world’s leading aircraft accident investigators and air safety advisors.

Welcome to My Impact Zone! My book is not a sports book, nor just a book about leadership, nor only about my time playing Notre Dame football. Linebacker in the Boardroom discusses the demand for excellence and accountability in all things we do. I talk about how those demands translate into lessons in our successes and failures in life. This book has leadership at its foundation. It is a search for our leadership inspirations. It's an examination of and a demand for personal and professional accountability, and shows you how to search for your individual opportunities to make a difference: what I call Impact Zones . To help you search for and define your Impact Zones, I developed 3E Leadership: Essential, Exceptional, and Ethical Leadership(TM) . It's a model for behavioral competencies and tools to help you transform yourself into a high-performer. On the field, in your cube, or in your office, on the factory shop floor, at your school desk, or in the boardroom, you can make an impact. Whether you view this book from a personal or professional perspective, whether you read it as a member of a work team, a community-based organization, athletic team, or religious group, whether you pick it up as the leader of a multi-billion-dollar company or as someone just starting out on your career journey, you will see how my thoughts and inspirations, successes and failures, philosophies and real-life experiences can and will have an impact on you. Welcome to the Impact Zone! Welcome to my world of 3E Leadership(TM)! Become the Essential, Exceptional, and Ethical Leader!

"Before he became president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage and took his company to the top of the game nationally, Mat Ishbia was a member of Tom Izzo's 2000 Michigan State national championship basketball team. More specifically, he was the guy at the end of the bench. But as Ishbia likes to say, "You don't have to be a captain to be a leader." Running the Corporate Offense is packed with this and other learned principles for smart, empathetic leadership based on teamwork. Ishbia shares his personal strategies and tips, such as "no-meeting Thursdays," as well as anecdotes from his playing days in East Lansing, demonstrating the universality of these practical approaches. This is an essential, accessible volume which proves that effective leadership truly translates from the bench to the board room"--