Leading with Respect - by Marcy Syms (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Infused with inspiring lessons and inside stories, this is a compelling look at leadership from a retail fashion pioneer who guided her family's company through decades of success, all built on a foundation of respect.

For 35 years, Marcy Syms appeared in TV and radio commercials for her family's company, voicing its famous slogan, "An educated consumer is our best customer." Syms was the first truly off-price retailer, offering name brands at cut-rate prices. At its peak, the chain had dozens of stores in 13 states. For Syms, the key to success was respect--for the consumers, for the employees, and for the designer brands they sold.

Working closely with her father, Sy Syms, the business's founder, Marcy helped transform Syms from a family concern to a retailing powerhouse. When Syms went public, Marcy became the youngest female president of an NYSE-listed company.

From the triumphs and challenges of female entrepreneurship to the excitement of store openings, Leading with Respect recounts the extraordinary origin story of off-price retailing and provides a perceptive look at a business that foreshadowed many of today's market trends. Full of personal recollections and relatable insights, Leading with Respect shares one businesswoman's journey from the backroom to the boardroom.

Review Quotes

Praise for Leading with Respect

"It's a rare business book that is both useful and endearing at the same time. Through her clear-eyed personal stories, Marcy illuminates how an entrepreneurial business evolved through changing times but always held to its core principles. Here is practical wisdom from a woman who really understands human nature." --Irene R. Miller, former CFO and Vice-Chairman, Barnes & Noble, Inc.

"Marcy Syms shares the wisdom she learned through her personal leadership journey from founder's daughter to CEO to philanthropist. It's pure Marcy--authentic and from the heart. Don't miss this remarkable book." --Carolyn Carter, Global President, International Women's Forum

"Revealing and inspiring, candid and engaging . . . After reading this book, you'll have learned some useful lessons." --Christie Hefner, former chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises (from the foreword)

"A must read that delivers enormous opportunity for anyone who wants to be successful in today's business world." --Robert L. Dilenschneider, founder and CEO of The Dilenschneider Group and author of Character, Decisions, and Nailing It

"Marcy Syms takes us on a life journey with her through an American Dream. The book is filled with practical advice that we can all use as we embark on our own journeys." --Dr. Georgette Bennett, founder of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding and author of Religicide and Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By

"Invaluable! The stories in this book take our breath away." --Muriel Fox, co-founder of the National Organization for Women

"Respect isn't just a value--it's a strategy. In Leading with Respect, Marcy Syms shares how she built a retail empire by putting people first. Equal parts inspiring and practical, this book will leave you thinking differently about leadership, business, and what it really takes to succeed." --Gary B. Cohen, Managing Partner of CO2 Coaching; author of Just Ask Leadership: Why great Mangers Always Ask the Right Questions

"Skip your MBA and just read these pages. It's inspiring, heartfelt, relatable and has gems on each page." --Jamie Keane, founder of Be Spotted, Julip, and Dog Spotted Marketing

"Marcy Syms, who became the youngest female NYSE company president, shares candid lessons from four decades of leadership while staying true to the core promise of respect--for customers, employees, and brands. " --Allen Adamson, co-founder of Metaforce; author of Seeing the How: Transforming What People Do, Not Buy, to Gain Market Advantage

"Learning through story is so much more rich and long lasting than learning by being told what to do or how to do it. Marcy Syms is an excellent narrator, weaving stories from different parts of her life to demonstrate that respect is foundational to leadership." --Dr. Fredda Herz Brown, founding partner of Relative Solutions; author of The Essential Roadmap: Navigating Family Enterprise Sustainability in a Changing World

"Marcy Syms takes you inside the heads of two groundbreaking businesspeople: herself, and her father Sy. Peppered with vivid stories and adept reflections." --Dr. Noam Wasserman, Dean, Yeshiva University's Sy Syms School of Business

"Marcy Syms provides treasured advice and wisdom as she shares her insights and valuable lessons learned in this book." --Richard Tereo, Director, Corporate Administration and Spirit of Children Foundation, Spencer Spirit Holdings, Inc.

"A fresh and candid account of how capitalism works in America . . . Leading with Respect is more than a business school case study, it is the whole course!" --Sheila Riggs, Member, Board of Directors, Benco Dental

"Marcy Syms inspires readers with her authentic and passionate commitment to life-long learning in both business and life. Her book is entertaining and practically useful. Her energetic curiosity, the key to her long-lasting and diverse successes, jumps out from every chapter." --Mary Pearl, Dean Emerita, Macaulay Honors College of CUNY; Chairman, Center for Large Landscape Conservation; Co-founder and Coordinator, International Biodiversity Network

About the Author

Marcy Syms is founding trustee and president of the Sy Syms Foundation, created in 1985. She is the former chair and CEO of Syms Corp. A social entrepreneur and an activist in the field of gender equality, Marcy has helped start organizations and served on dozens of boards in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Her book Mind Your Own Business and Keep it in the Family has been widely taught in business schools. In 2022 and 2023 she was a Fellow at Harvard's Advanced Leadership Initiative program. Marcy is actively engaged with her next startup, a podcast showcasing the importance of respect. Visit her online at marcysyms.com.