Trailblazing a New Era of Leadership
Carla A. Harris’s Lead-to-Win Revolution
In a time when leadership is being redefined by complexity, crisis and cultural change, Carla A. Harris’s latest book, Lead to Win: How to Be a Powerful, Impactful, Influential Leader in Any Environment, lands like a bold, energizing call to action.
It’s more than a guidebook, it’s a manifesto for the kind of transformative, people-centered leadership the world is starving for.
Harris, a business leader and Wall Street powerhouse distills decades of high-stakes experience into a timely blueprint for leaders ready to rise above outdated command-and-control playbooks.
What she delivers is deeply aligned with the values of the Dave Alexander Center for Social Capital, whose mission is to elevate a new generation of CEOs and entrepreneurs who understand that people are the point of profit.
At the heart of Lead to Win is a powerful framework Harris calls Intentional Leadership, the idea that great leaders aren’t born; they’re built through deliberate, value-driven action.
The book outlines eight intentional behaviors that define leadership in today’s dynamic environment: authenticity, trust, clarity, inclusivity, innovation, voice, diversity and the capacity to create other leaders.
Leadership for a New Matrix
In light of the continued emergence of hybrid teams, economic uncertainty and shifting social contracts, Harris asserts that leaders must do more than manage — they must transform. The currency of leadership is no longer control, but connection.
Her emphasis on trust and inclusivity as daily disciplines echoes the Center for Social Capital’s belief that strong bonds with employees, customers and communities are no longer optional — they are foundational.
As Harris writes: “You cannot have impact without influence, and you cannot have influence without trust.” That’s not just a leadership truism — it’s a guiding principle for anyone working to humanize capitalism.
The Courage to Innovate
Where Lead to Win shines brightest is its no-nonsense clarity around innovation. Harris doesn’t treat innovation as a tech buzzword or a department silo but rather as a leadership mindset. She argues that without it, stagnation is inevitable.
She argues that leaders who fail to anticipate change or resist the discomfort of adaptation will fall behind. It’s a warning shot and an invitation — precisely the kind of message the Social Capital Insider seeks to amplify.
For companies navigating massive disruption, Harris’s advice is clear: Lean into vision, empower your people and don’t be afraid to break what no longer works. Innovation, she says, is about making your organization ready for what’s next — morally, strategically and operationally.
A Trailblazer’s Testimony
Part memoir, part masterclass, Lead to Win draws from Harris’s own rise from a young Harvard grad to a senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley. Her stories pulse with the kind of wisdom only hard-earned experience can offer. There are no empty platitudes here — only real talk, leadership “gems” and strategy that sticks.
This authenticity — Harris walking her own talk — is precisely what makes her a model of what a social capital leader is all about. She has lived what she preaches: taking risks, leveraging relationships, mentoring others and speaking with a courageous voice even when it isn't convenient.
Why This Book Matters Now
The Dave Alexander Center for Social Capital exists to spotlight leaders who see their role as not just profit-makers, but humanity-advancers. Lead to Win speaks directly to this purpose. Its wisdom applies across sectors — whether you’re leading a Fortune 500 company or a scrappy startup, the question is the same: Are you building trust and unleashing potential, or are you clinging to control?
In a world where the meaning of success is being rewritten, Carla Harris reminds us that impact is the new metric, and social capital is the ultimate asset.
Lead to Win isn’t just a book, it’s a mirror and a roadmap. A mirror for leaders to assess how they show up, and a roadmap for how to lead with courage, character and conviction. If you’re part of our Social Capital movement, this is essential reading. If you’re not, this book might just convince you to join.
Because the future of leadership isn’t about domination — it’s about transformation. And with Carla Harris as your guide, you’re not just learning to lead. You’re learning to lead to win — for your people, your purpose and the world.