Total Retail Tech Keynoter James Rhee Publishes New Book, 'red helicopter'

James Rhee, the former CEO of Ashley Stewart who will be a keynote speaker at our our upcoming Total Retail Tech event, has published a book that hit the shelves this week.

The book, "red helicopter — lead change with kindness (plus a little math)," is based on a specific event in Rhee's life: In kindergarten, he received a toy red helicopter after a simple act of kindness. Nearly four decades later, the lessons from this small gift helped him develop a human-centered framework for business and personal success that's now taught across the country in classrooms, boardrooms and at kitchen tables.

A high school teacher turned private equity investor, Rhee unexpectedly took the helm of Ashley Stewart, a women’s clothing company predominantly employing and serving Black women that was heading towards liquidation. Drawing inspiration from values instilled by his Korean immigrant parents, Rhee as a first-time CEO, trusted his instincts to identify, measure and leverage the intangible goodwill at Ashley Stewart's core by changing the company culture and building a business plan that centered upon Black women. Defying expectations, he led the twice-bankrupt company from certain liquidation to a transcendent success, inspiring the world along the way.

In the book, Rhee reflects on his professional and personal experiences and combines a child’s clarity and imagination with fundamental business metrics to share a clear, instructional path to create a more sustainable balance between life, money and joy for ourselves and others. "red helicopter" notes that anyone can apply this refreshingly intuitive approach to change. All it takes is combining the power of kindness with a little math.

For more info on "red helicopter" as well as Rhee, click here. And to see Rhee in person, check out his book tour schedule.