Beauty Queen: Inside the Reign of Avon’s Andrea Jung

Himsel (Leadership Sopranos Style), former vice-president of global organization effectiveness at Avon, takes on the story of former Avon CEO Andrea Jung, who resigned in 2011 in a blaze of scandal. At her peak, Jung was considered one of the finest leaders of the early 21st century; former colleague Himsel believes that her career constitutes the perfect leadership case study. What may come as the greatest surprise to readers is that Avon is still a relevant and successful company, with 80% of revenues now coming from outside the U.S, partly thanks to Jung. Using her own experience and interviews with those who knew her, Himsel narrates Jung’s rise at Avon at a time when the direct sales channel model was viewed as old-fashioned. She then covers Jung’s initial success, her reshaping of the company’s image and mission, difficulties that arose, and her ultimate downfall. Unfortunately, the discussion of Jung’s struggles falls flat, with stilted writing and a tone that feels more like a book proposal. The second section, covering extrapolated leadership lessons, is more successful, with insights on culture, leadership balance, and gender in the corporate suite. The book is a valiant try at a leadership biography and a leadership toolbox that falls short of both. Agent: Paige Wheeler, Folio. (Apr.)