Leadership in the Rough

Leadership in the Rough isn't just a book-it's your blueprint for thriving in a world and workplace of constant change. Built around the powerful diamond metaphor-formed under pressure and refined into brilliance-this guide shows why mastering both hard and soft skills is the secret to success in this modern workplace. As Winston Churchill said, "A diamond is simply a piece of coal made good under pressure."

Drawing from my TEDx talk and 25 years of leadership experience across global organizations, I share compelling stories, research, and actionable strategies backed by data that will transform how you lead and show up. You'll learn why adaptability, resilience, and emotional intelligence matter just as much as technical expertise-and how to apply them in real-world scenarios.

At the heart of this book are 9 practical principles that will help you lead with confidence and collaborate with intention:

✔ Cultivate curiosity

✔ Embrace change

✔ Navigate your career like a jungle gym

✔ Choose optimism

✔ Harness the power of networking

✔ Give grace

✔ Treat feedback as a gift

✔ Nurture your narrative

✔ Lead with a philanthropic mindset

Think of Leadership in the Rough as your Swiss Army knife for success-equipping you to elevate your brand, lead with grace, and maximize performance under pressure. This isn't about just surviving our ever-changing environment it's about thriving through it.

If you're ready to build mental stamina, embrace challenges, and turn uncertainty into opportunity, this book is for you

Author: Deb Jennings
Publisher: Manuscripts LLC
Published: 02/09/2026
Pages: 162
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.43lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.35d
ISBN: 9798889265993

About the Author
Jennings, Deb: - Debra "Deb" Jennings is a transformational Healthcare Leader with 25 years of demonstrated success creating strategies to help transform business outcomes, while cultivating and elevating culture. Deb's depth of leadership experience spans several functions including Marketing, Communications, Strategy and Operations, Data, Digital & Technology, Patient Services and Market Access. Deb is passionate about DE&I and has led several steering committees to help advance inclusion and allyship. When she is not working Deb is actively involved with several affinity groups that support gender parity, including WISE (Women's Information and Social Exchange), which she founded. She is an alumnus of the Women Unlimited Program, a member of Chief and has been part of several mentorship programs. Deb is also a founding member of an industry Braintrust to ideate and innovate. Deb received her bachelor's degree in business from Eastern Nazarene College and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.Given her ability to consistently find a place for people and business centricity to co-exist she was recommended to speak and take the TEDx stage. She appeared on the red dot during the fall of 2023 and received several requests to share her message on a larger platform, which led to authoring her first book, Leadership in the Rough, which focuses on how to navigate this modern workplace to not only survive but thrive. Within the book Deb curates 9 principles, combining personal stories, research, and data from her long standing career as a leader. Success requires soft and hard skills, like the formation of a piece of coal into a diamond, a diamond in the rough.Deb lives outside of Boston with her husband Fred and son Christopher and her two Tuxedo cats Santiago and Pedro who keep life interesting.