Good Power by Ginni Rometty Summary
Overview of Good Power
In "Good Power," former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty reveals how to harness influence for collective good. This Wall Street Journal bestseller offers five principles that transformed her journey from difficult childhood to tech leadership - a blueprint for anyone seeking meaningful impact in an increasingly complex world.
Similar books to Good Power
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
When Your Father Walks Out, Your Future Walks In
What if the worst thing that ever happened to you became the foundation for everything you'd achieve? Days before Thanksgiving, Virginia "Ginni" Rometty's father abandoned their family of six, telling her mother: "I'll never give you anything. For all I care, you can work on the street." Most stories that begin this way end in bitterness. This one ends with the corner office of IBM-and a radical reimagining of what power actually means. Rometty didn't just survive abandonment and poverty; she transformed them into a leadership philosophy that would eventually reshape how we think about corporate responsibility, technological ethics, and human potential itself. Her journey reveals an uncomfortable truth: power isn't about force or authority. It's about service, belief-building, and creating opportunities for others-what she calls "good power." Rometty's family tree reads like a testament to women who refused to break. Her great-grandmother Solemia fled war-torn Belarus and cleaned Chicago's Wrigley Building at night after becoming a widow. Her grandmother Mary successfully ran a lamp shop after losing two husbands. These weren't women who waited for rescue-they built their own lifeboats. When Rometty's father left, her mother didn't collapse into victimhood. She enrolled in community college while working two jobs, learning computer skills that would eventually provide stability and dignity. The message was clear: you always have agency, even when circumstances try to convince you otherwise.
The Invisible Inheritance and the Value of Preparation
From Preparation to Building Belief in Others
Leading Through Crisis: When Belief Meets Action
The Reinvention Paradox: Balancing Change with Core Identity
Technology with Conscience: Values-Based Leadership in Action
Be the Storm: SkillsFirst and the Future of Opportunity
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to Good Power Summary in 11 Minutes
Break down key ideas from Good Power into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 7 Insights from Good Power in a Nutshell
Distill Good Power into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - Good Power Lessons Told Through 24-Min Stories
Experience Good Power through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to Good Power Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the Good Power summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.