Catherine Fredman: woman of words logo

Business Books

Collaborator on six business bestsellers:

Challenges Are Our Business book coverChallenges Are Our Business:
Adapting, Reinventing and Thriving across a Century of Change

by Cisneros Group late Chairman and CEO Gustavo Cisneros
Planeta, May 2024

The late Chairman and CEO of Cisneros Group chronicles the process of constant reinvention and entrepreneurial transformation of the business his father started with one dump truck in Caracas to becoming a transnational conglomerate of over 30 companies in the communication, telecom, advertising, tourism, and real estate development sectors.

"Catherine Fredman, my writing partner, came into this project without any special knowledge of Cisneros or Venezuela, but by the end she was able to teach me things I didn't know. Her sensitivity and persistence extracted many nuggets of information, but perhaps more importantly, connections between them that I hadn't seen before."

Connecting to the Future book coverConnecting to the Future: A Blueprint for Dynamic Leadership

by Investcorp Executive Chairman Mohammed Alardhi
Simon Element, October 2023

The Executive Chairman of global wealth management firm Investcorp describes how he transformed a stagnating boutique investment firm, quintupling its assets under management and becoming a global brand in just eight years. This book was a top 15 USA TODAY best-seller.

"Catherine Fredman's probing questions and keen editorial instincts challenged me at every step even as her enthusiasm, persistent curiosity, and unflagging good humor made her a pleasure to work with. Her ability to follow my thought processes and capture my voice made me sound like myself — only better."

The Company I Keep book coverThe Company I Keep:
My Life in Beauty

by Estée Lauder chairman emeritus Leonard Lauder
Harper Collins, November 2020

The chairman emeritus and former CEO of Estée Lauder describes how he helped transform the mom-and-pop business his mother founded in the family kitchen into a multi-brand, global icon.

"Thank you to Catherine Fredman for her laughter as much as her literary talents. From her way with words to her excellent recall of Gilbert & Sulllivan songs to her delicious home-baked treats — it's been so much fun! I couldn't have asked for a better writing partner."

Transforming Nokia book coverTransforming Nokia:
The Power of Paranoid Optimism to Lead Through Colossal Change

by Nokia Chairman Risto Siilasmaa
McGraw Hill, October 2018

The inside story of Nokia's near-death experience and reinvention with lessons on recognizing, surviving and mastering fundamental change by Nokia Chairman Risto Siilasmaa. This book was a #1 bestseller in Finland, a bestseller in China (a Treasury China Media best book of 2019) and was short-listed for the 2018 Finlandia Award.

"I wrote this book together with Catherine Fredman. She claims I could have written the book without her, but it would have been a different book, and worse in all respects. Thank you, Catherine, for the partnership and all the laughs we have had during the journey."

You're In Charge — Now What? book coverYou're in Charge — Now What?

by Spencer Stuart co-chairs Thomas J. Neff and James M. Citrin
Crown Business, 2005

A bestselling guide to getting off to the right start in a new job.

"We would like to thank Catherine Fredman, an exceptional writer, who helped us formulate the structure of the book and draft each chapter. She also scrupulously transformed more than a thousand interview transcript pages into a logical construct and helped tighten them into various drafts of the manuscript. Her contribution to distilling and organizing our thinking was crucial to getting our arms around the hundreds of potentially disparate ideas we had considered."

Use the News book coverUse the News

by Maria Bartiromo
Harper Business, 2001

A national bestseller on separating investment news from noise by CNBC's "Money Honey."

"Catherine Fredman made the process of transforming an idea into a book seem natural and enjoyable. Her understanding of the subject matter and her ability to capture my voice were immensely valuable. In addition, she enthusiastically interviewed many of the sources and researched many of the facts quoted in these pages. I could not have written this book without her."

Direct from Dell book coverDirect from Dell

by Michael Dell
Harper Business, 1999

A national bestseller on honing your competitive edge by the founder of Dell Computer Corp.

"Catherine Fredman, my creative partner, through her research and probing questions, brought this project to life and helped turn my ideas into something understandable on paper."

Only the Paranoid Survive book coverOnly the Paranoid Survive

by Andrew S. Grove
Currency Doubleday, 1996

A national bestseller on career and management strategy by the co-founder of Intel Corp.

"The most significant credit goes to Catherine Fredman, who helped me throughout the long process of transforming a precis into a book. Her understanding of my subject matter, her ability to follow my thought processes, and her incredible organizational skills were immensely valuable. Particularly helpful were her insights into the parallels between individuals' careers and corporate strategy. And her sense of humor has helped me skirt many a pothole."


Additional management strategy books:

WINNING THE WAR FOR TALENT IN EMERGING MARKETS
by Sylvia Ann Hewlett and Ripa Rashid
Harvard Business Press, 2011

THE STRATEGIC LEARNING ADVANTAGE
by Willie Pietersen, Strategy Professor at Columbia University
A guide to gaining and sustaining competitive advantage
Wiley, 2010

TOP TALENT: KEEPING PERFORMANCE UP WHEN BUSINESS IS DOWN
by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
Harvard Business Press, 2009

LEAVING A LEGACY
by Allianz Life Insurance CEO Mark Zesbaugh and Ken Dychtwald
A resource for finance professionals
Privately published, 2006