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Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.

WHO SAYS ELEPHANTS CAN'T DANCE?

How one bold leader turned an industry giant from clumsy to agile—and revived IBM against all odds.
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What's You Learn?
IBM's historic turnaround proves even giants can transform with courageous leadership – Who Says Elephants Can't Dance? by Lou Gerstner reveals how to revive dying organizations.

This comprehensive transformation story summary and turnaround principles explain:

  • Customer-Centric Revolution - Shift from product-push to market-pull orientation
  • Cultural Transformation Method - Change behaviors first, mindsets follow
  • Strategic Focus Discipline - Say no to good opportunities to excel at great ones
  • Execution Over Strategy - Success comes from doing not just planning


The hidden gem: Gerstner saved IBM by abandoning conventional wisdom and trusting customer insights.

Lead your Click.Apply.Grow™ dance: Focus on customers. Transform culture. Execute relentlessly. Organizations following Gerstner's playbook achieve 10x value creation during transformation.

Elephants can dance. Giants can pivot.

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About the Author

Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. is a legendary CEO and corporate turnaround architect best known for saving IBM and redefining its culture.

As CEO of IBM from 1993–2002, Gerstner transformed the company from near collapse into a modern services-led enterprise, adding over $70 billion in market value. His book “Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?” is a classic in corporate leadership.

What sets Louis apart: He proved that even the largest, most rigid organizations can reinvent themselves.

Companies adopting his turnaround principles report greater agility, sharper customer focus, and stronger cultural resilience.

The turnaround titan who taught the world how to make elephants dance.

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