Exemplary Leaders in Managing DiversityIn today's global marketplace, organizations face the challenge of gaining and maintaining a competitive advantage while simultaneously managing a workforce diverse work. Therefore, achieving these goals requires leaders with vision, commitment and an understanding of how diversity can positively impact business goals. Thus, the strategy used by Louis Gerstner, former CEO of IBM, to transform the way the company managed diversity to respond to market changes was examined.Case Study: Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. IBMBackgroundLouis Gerstner is became CEO of the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in 1993. Gerstner graduated magna cum laude with an engineering degree from Dartmouth College in 1963 and received his MBA from Harvard University in 1970. After college, Gerstner worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Co. While there, Gerstner rose through the ranks. ranks becoming one of the youngest partners in the firm's history. Therefore, Gerstner's meteoric rise was due to his business acumen. In 1978, Gerstner saved Penn Central Railway from bankruptcy and overhauled its operations. Additionally, before becoming CEO of IBM, Gerstner held a series of high-profile positions, including executive vice president of travel and spending for American Express and CEO of RJR Nabisco. However, by the time Gerstner became CEO of IBM, many considered it the hardest job in America (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011). PhilosophyIBM values ​​diversity and has done so for some time. Therefore, before being a diverse company, becoming popular or being politically correct, IBM is committed to becoming a leader in diversity. Thus, thanks to the company's pioneering efforts, the top 50 most diverse products...... middle of paper ......nt in particular and the overall success in general are due to Gerstner's passion .ReferencesCanas, KA, & Sondak, H. (2010). Opportunities and challenges of diversity in the workplace: theory, cases and exercises. (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Diversity Inc. (2011). The Diversity Inc. ranks the top 50 companies for diversity. Retrieved from http://diversityinc.com/the-2011-diversityinc-top-50/no-7-ibm-corp/ Linden, B. (2011). Diversity done right is a competitive advantage. Retrieved from http://asiasociety.org/business/nomic-trends/diversity-done-right-competitive-advantageLou Gerstner. (2011). In Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/lou-gerstner-39353 Thomas, DA (September 2004). Diversity as a strategy. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from http://www.tedchilds.com/files/HBRDiversityStrategy04.pdf