Superhero Leadership - by Peter Cuneo & Joe Garner (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"Heroes are made by the path they choose, not the powers they are graced with." -Tony Stark, Iron Man

Peter Cuneo, who led Marvel Entertainment from near bankruptcy to a $4.5 billion sale to Disney, knows leadership and management. As CEO, he led successful turnarounds at worldwide brands like Marvel, Black & Decker, and Remington. Forbes and Business Insider have called him one of the best turnaround CEOs in America.

In Superhero Leadership, Cuneo distills decades of leadership experience into the 28 cardinal virtues that define transcendent leadership--the most important attitudes, philosophies, behaviors, and instincts that you need to become a superhuman leader. Cuneo gives timeless lessons in core competencies like leadership fundamentals, company values and culture, change management, crisis leadership, and self-maintenance, each supported with narratives and case studies from Peter's experience atop the world's corporate ranks and as a Navy officer.

Written with six-time New York Times bestselling author Joe Garner, whom Larry King once called the "Ken Burns of the written and recorded word," Superhero Leadership is a masterclass in leadership from an industry titan. It's a must-read for anyone aspiring to unleash their inner superhero and become a leader who inspires loyalty, drives success, and empowers others to reach their full potential.

Review Quotes

"Peter Cuneo distills a lifetime of courageous leadership into timeless lessons for a world in flux. Superhero Leadership transcends business--it's a call to lead with integrity, empathy, and the kind of optimism that builds both companies and character. Peter's voice is calm, wise, and urgent all at once--a master strategist who understands that true power begins with self-awareness and service to others."

-- Soledad O'Brien, award-winning journalist, producer, and founder of Soledad O' Brien Productions

"Superhero Leadership is a masterclass in leading with integrity, clarity, and courage. Peter Cuneo shows that the most effective leaders communicate simply, act decisively, and take full responsibility for the outcomes that shape their organizations and communities."

-- Patrick Butler, former President & CEO, America's Public Television Stations

"Leadership rarely follows a script--it's instinctive, human, and shaped by the choices we dare to make. Superhero Leadership reveals how character and courage, not calculation, define a leader's legacy."

-- Bruce Ramer, senior partner, Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman LLP

"Superhero Leadership reminds us that great leadership begins with self-development and thrives through connection. Peter Cuneo's insights prove that communication, empathy, and integrity are not soft skills--they're the foundation of lasting success."

-- Joe Hart, CEO, Dale Carnegie Training; coauthor, Take Command: Find Your Inner Strength, Build Enduring Relationships, and Live the Life You Want

"After thirty-one years in the Navy--and nearly six of those in a Vietnam prison camp--I've seen leadership at its finest and its worst. Peter Cuneo's Superhero Leadership masterfully reveals the positive principles and practices that define the best of the best."

-- Captain Charlie Plumb, USN (Ret.), former Vietnam POW and author of I'm No Hero

"Superhero Leadership is a masterclass in accessible leadership. Peter Cuneo reminds us that true strength lies not in hierarchy or authority, but in humility--in being open, curious, and willing to listen. His call to lead without self-importance, to be genuinely accessible, feels both timeless and urgently relevant in today's world."

-- Patrice Gordon, executive coach and author of Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace

"True leadership reveals itself in the storm, not the calm. Superhero Leadership takes honesty, empathy, and resilience--powerful attributes which help transform crisis into opportunity--and restore belief when sometimes all seems lost."

-- Joanne Rumley, Partner, Foot Anstey LLP; President, Turnaround Management Association (UK)

About the Author

Peter Cuneo is a recognized leader in strategic and financial turnarounds. Since 1983, he has completed seven turnarounds of distressed branded businesses in the global media and consumer products sectors, including Clairol, Black & Decker, Remington, and Marvel Entertainment. As President and CEO of Marvel, he led the company to a prominent position in the entertainment industry. He then served as Vice Chairman of the board, providing active strategic leadership as Marvel continued to grow into one of the world's leading entertainment brands, culminating in a $4.5 billion sale to the Disney Company.

Cuneo has served and continues to serve on the boards of public and private companies, often as chairman. He serves on the board of the National Archives in Washington, DC. Peter was a naval officer and completed two tours in the Vietnam War on a guided missile destroyer. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School.

Joe Garner, deemed the "Ken Burns of the written and recorded word" by talk show legend Larry King, is a six-time New York Times bestselling author renowned for his innovative storytelling and multimedia approach. Garner has collaborated with celebrated figures across industries, including broadcast journalists Walter Cronkite and Brian Williams, Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman, sports broadcast icon Bob Costas, comedy greats Carl and Rob Reiner, and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. With a unique ability to bring history, culture, and personal legacies to life, Garner remains a leader in the world of nonfiction.