In The Heart-Led Leader, motivational speaker and former CEO Tommy Spaulding, bestselling author of It’s Not Just Who You Know, tackles the subject of principled leadership, pointing out that who you are-the values and principles that guide your life and shape you as a leader-is far more important than what your title is or what trophies or ribbons you have on your bookshelf.

In his first book It’s Not Just Who You Know (#2 on the New York Times bestseller list), former CEO of Up with People talked about the power of relationships in getting ahead in life, stating that the secret to achieving our full potential is to reach out for the support, insight, and influence of others. In his new book, Spaulding turns his focus to ourselves-to who we are. Genuine heart-led leadership, he says-the kind of leadership that leads to transformational organizations-is based on what Spaulding calls the five Who Leader qualities-humility, vulnerability, transparency, empathy, and love. And over the course of this compelling and deeply personal book, illustrated with stories from some of the exceptional leaders Tommy has met and worked with over the years, he unpacks what those qualities mean, talks about the eighteen inch journey from the head to the heart-from our intellect to our emotions-and shows how to incorporate them into our careers, into our management and leadership skills, and into our lives.