"The title of this book is so telling. Rose M. Patten has a rich background as a leader in corporations and public institutions. Beyond her direct leadership roles, she has selected and developed leaders, mentored leaders, and built relevant institutional leadership capabilities. It is an impressive record. But what makes Rose uniquely impressive is that she is constantly – intentionally – thinking about what is needed now and as the context changes."
James Fisher, Professor Emeritus, Rotman School of Management
"I have watched Rose M. Patten’s responses, in real time, to the changing demands that leaders constantly face. It is clear, for those leaders who embrace change, that Patten’s intentional leadership practices espoused in this book are timely, compelling, and straightforward. She makes a powerful case for being an intentional leader and going beyond instinct and yesterday’s assumptions. Patten also explains eight critical capabilities – the ‘Big 8’ – to address pressing challenges in human-centric leading and dynamic strategic environments. This is a must-read for anyone who wants more from their leaders, embraces self-renewal, and strives to increase their own impact. Patten offers practical and tested insights in a range of leadership contexts, gained in her own distinguished and diverse leadership career, and that of other accomplished leaders from multiple sectors. At BMO Financial Group, we have adopted and implemented the ‘Big 8’ capabilities, and we see the importance of practicing intentional leadership."
Mona Malone, Chief HR Officer and Head of People and Culture, BMO Financial Group
"Having worked closely with Rose M. Patten for close to three decades, through a time when Canadian institutions have been repeatedly acknowledged among the tallest trees in global finance, I have awaited the arrival of this book with great anticipation. As you will discover in reading, Rose has a deep understanding of the power of decision frameworks in problem-solving, in business strategy, and on broad issues. She argues persuasively for the reconciliation of divergent stakeholder interests through rigorous, observation-based thinking while maintaining an empathetic view of human motivation. In a world defined by uncertainty and polarization, she builds a compelling case for intentional leadership and explains eight capabilities for leaders to achieve their full potential, both in early and in accomplished stages of leading."
William Downe, C.M., Former CEO, BMO Financial Group
"Rose M. Patten is a proven senior leader in the banking sector and in academia. Her depth and diversity of experience resonates throughout this book. In Intentional Leadership, Patten provides powerful leadership observations and a leadership framework attuned to the complex challenges facing all leaders today. Unlike some books that put forward easy, snappy answers, this book looks at the enduring and fundamental pillars of leadership – making it more relevant and meaningful."
Donald Guloien, President, Guloien Capital, and Former President and CEO, Manulife
"While there are numerous books on leadership, this work stands out as it is built on a variety of real-life experiences. Leaders across sectors were interviewed, many at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in very timely insights on leading through disruption and change. This easy-to-read book makes clear that in this complex and rapidly evolving world, leadership requires an open mind, adaptability, and resilience. Rose M. Patten shows that leading today requires a good understanding of oneself, clear personal values, and the ability to collaborate with a diverse set of partners. This book will be of interest to aspiring and seasoned leaders alike."
Vivek Goel, President and Vice Chancellor, University of Waterloo
"In a world of dramatic change, leaders must change too! This is the key message of Rose M. Patten’s Intentional Leadership, and one that I wholeheartedly support. At the Center for Creative Leadership, we have long developed leaders who make a difference in their organizations and in the world through the power of creative, human-centered leadership. These qualities are now more important than ever as leaders face a host of complex challenges that require new capabilities. As Patten writes, ‘leadership is not timeless. What got us to here in the past has changed.’ She outlines key shifts in the context of work that require leaders – both experienced and new – to become more intentional about how they lead and to cultivate new mindsets and practices for leading in a world of unprecedented change and disruption. I have had the pleasure of working with Rose over the years to develop BMO’s top leaders. In every instance, she has shown herself to be a passionate expert, advocate, and advisor to many. In this book, she draws from her lifetime of experience in both distinguished business and academic positions to provide a valuable resource and leadership framework enabling leaders to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow."
Mark Holt, Organizational Leadership Practitioner, Center for Creative Leadership
"More than 15,000 books on leadership have been published in the last twenty-five years. So, why should you read this new book on leadership? First, because the world of work is dramatically different from yesteryear’s workplace and will continue to change rapidly. Traditional business models and management and leadership practices need updating. Rose M. Patten proposes the concept of intentional leadership – with a focus on eight capabilities for leading effectively, grounded in the new workplace reality. Second, because this leadership book is easy to read and grasp. Its structure, with short chapters and a logical flow of learnings, makes it an appealing and digestible read. While it is based mainly on the author’s own firsthand and studied cross-sector leadership experiences, it is infused with insights gained from many senior leaders and includes recent deliberate conversations with highly accomplished leaders from diverse sectors. And third, because the author is credible on the subject. Throughout her successful career – in the vanguard of female Bay Street financial executives, rising to the executive committee of BMO Financial Group in addition to other distinguished leadership positions in the academic, health, and public sectors – Patten has exemplified stellar leadership and personified the qualities and capabilities she advocates for in this book. To be clear, if you are in a position of leadership – in the private, public, or nonprofit sector, paid or unpaid, or if you have a general interest in the subject – you should read this book."
Anne Golden, Canadian Administrator, and Former President and CEO, the Conference Board of Canada
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