The Ignorant Maestro: How Great Leaders Inspire Unpredictable Brilliance

In The Ignorant Maestro, Symphony Orchestra conductor Itay Talgam reveals the art of successful leadership by looking at the world's greatest conductors

A conductor in front of his orchestra is an iconic symbol of leadership. But what does a maestro actually do to ensure cooperation, harmony and a flawless performance?

The key is to embrace ignorance.

For twenty years, orchestra conductor Itay Talgam has drawn on his experience on the podium to teach non-musicians the art of leading like a conductor - from CEOs to entrepreneurs, politicians to schoolteachers. In The Ignorant Maestro, he brings that art to leaders everywhere.

Turning to six of the most iconic conductors as examples, from the dictatorial Muti to Bernstein, the master of dialogue, Talgam's anecdotes and insights will change the way you think about listening, humility and the path to unpredictable brilliance. They will equip you for exceptional leadership. And they will empower you to lead your team to greater harmony.

Itay Talgam, a protégé and disciple of the great Leonard Bernstein, has conducted many prominent orchestras and ensembles worldwide, including the Orchestre de Paris, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and the Leipzig Opera House. He also teaches leadership to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and universities, and at conferences around the world, including TED, Google's Zeitgeist and the World Economic Forum at Davos.