To the Desert and Back

Dove, Lipton, Knorr, Ben & Jerry's, and Slim*Fast are a few ofthe brands that are part of the $66 billion global empire known asUnilever. When the story opens, one of its divisions is in deeptrouble-- declining volume, eroding margins, critical qualityproblems-- and is close to being sold off. Then Tex Gunning,its visionary new division chairman, takes the stage, an expandingcircle of young leaders takes charge, and once-skeptical workersembrace a challenging message of growth. The result? The divisiongrows by double digits, year in and year out, and energizesUnilever's path to thrive around the globe.

To the Desert and Back tells the inside story of thetransformation in the words of the people in all quarters of thecompany who made it happen. It documents five years of personalsoul-searching, teamwork, companywide learning conferences,memorable journeys to the mountains and desert, and inspiredpromotions that show how these efforts produced a remarkabletop-to-bottom turnaround. This story delivers authentic andconvincing proof that a revitalized business is about personalgrowth.

The lessons learned from this dramatic business turnaroundprovide unexpected insights and encouraging inspiration for othercompanies and leaders ready to embark on their own remarkablejourney of transformation, growth, and success.