Sir Bob Reid is former Chairman of Shell UK, British Rail, ICE Futures Europe, and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Scotland, among much else. His is a story of determination and achievement shot through with political upheaval, economic reversal, and industrial catastrophe.

His first posting was to Borneo. Stints in Africa, Thailand and Australia followed, after which he became chair of Shell UK, responsible for all oil exploration, production, refineries and coastal shipping. He then steered disparate large organizations through challenging times by drawing on universal principles about people, power and profit that he had absorbed in his youth and expatriate years. Success was often rooted in his understanding that you don't need to like every member of your team, but you do need to elicit and nurture each individual contribution.

The wisdom gained in a lifetime of leadership - of realizing the talent and energy of the people you work with - will inspire anyone who wants to make a difference in business and social enterprise, now or in the future.