Shire Chairman Pens Quirky Read

Face it: Lots of us have a certain penchant for business books. Whether memorizing the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People or swearing by Seth Godin, we come away from these books ready to organize better, communicate more, etc, etc.…

But Zenobia: A Tale of Triumph Over Yes-People, Cynics, Hedgers, and Other Corporate Killjoys is different—and from the first page, it’s easy to see why. Coauthored by Shire Chairman Matthew Emmens and his writing partner, Beth Kephart, the book offers the fanciful tale of Moira, a young lady who traverses corporate bureaucracy by crawling, jumping, and yes, flying her way through the winding and crumbling maze of Zenobia to find the elusive Room 133A. Unlike other business books, Zenobia teaches us nothing that will help us organize our e-mail inbox or develop a more robust business plan. Instead, it inspires on a more personal level—focusing on the need for risk, an appetite for the new, and the belief that you (and I’m talking to you!) can do it.

It’s hard to imagine many pharma leaders could write such a quirky tome. But if you know Matt Emmens, it’s easy to see where this is coming from. In our last meeting, Emmens’ voice grew monotone and his eyes went droopy when discussing the upswing in sales, yet he lit up when talking about a recent cocktail reception for the sales team’s up and comers. Indeed, Emmens says that young people working in pharma need this advice if they are to revitalize the industry. His quickly scribbled inscription in my copy summarizes it best: “We are trying to communicate to aspiring executives that success is not about money, but rather the financial benefits result from having courage, persistence, and imagination.” Just like Moira.

You can check out the book by clicking here.