The Corporate Playbook: While Others Play Checkers, Play Three Dimensional Chess

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By Dell W

There was so much advice in this book that spoke to me, that I marked important parts of almost every page. The strategies made me feel like I was talking to a trusted teacher who wasn't afraid to tell me the truth. The business playbook: “Don't play checkers; instead, play three-dimensional Chess,” isn't just another set of rules for leadership; it's a call to think more deeply and bravely.

What struck me most was how the book doesn’t rely on jargon or abstract theories. Instead, it distills years of knowledge into clear "Ways to Play" that can be used right away in any business setting. The author gives both practical and personal tips on how to handle office politics, inspire teams with different backgrounds, and make sure that your personal values align with the goals of the company. I liked how she stressed empathy as a way to gain power, which is something that traditional business models don't always do.

The tone is empowering without being preachy. I never felt talked down to or overwhelmed. Each chapter layered on the next, guiding me to think differently, more expansively, and more courageously. The chess metaphor was carried throughout the book with finesse, never forced, and always illuminating. It challenged me to stop playing reactive checkers with my decisions and instead start thinking several moves ahead—about people, culture, and long-term impact.

This is the kind of book I wish I’d read earlier in my career, but I’m grateful to have it now. This book is great for both new leaders and experienced professionals who feel like they've hit a wall or a plateau. What does it mean to be a leader these days? It made me think about how much more satisfying it is to do our jobs with purpose and presence.

Overall, I enjoyed how the author weaved honesty into every page. Her voice is grounded, wise, and genuinely real. This book will make you think long after the last chapter ends, in a time when quick fixes and surface-level inspiration are common. I’ll certainly be sharing this with my coworkers and mentees, not because of what it teaches, but also because it makes its readers think differently and more effectively.

About the Author

Deborah A. Grant

Deborah Augustine Grant is a visionary senior executive whose consummate leadership emboldens teams to confidently take positive and constructive action. As one of the country’s foremost experts in Diversity & Inclusion her passion and guidance have transformed the organizations she has led. Her thirty-year career has enabled her to launch a Strategic Solutions consulting firm, Corporate Playbook, an Executive Coaching and where she serves as President and CEO.

Deborah was GE’s first-ever black female corporate officer. Her role as Global Chief Diversity Officer placed her in the top 185 of 300,000 employees. In Deb’s decorated thirty-year career at General Electric (GE), she led GE’s philanthropic efforts through the GE Foundation’s $130M budget and GE Volunteers, to tackle some of the world’s most critical challenges across health, education and skill attainment. Today she is one of the foremost experts and champions of leadership development, diversity, inclusion, and philanthropy. Corporate Playbook’s offerings of specialized executive coaching and the strategic development of leaders to advance their professional endeavors form the bedrock and culmination of Deb Grant’s life work.