ROGER O. CROCKETT

Trailblazers

The story of the first Black executives to lead Fortune 500 companies — and the hard-won lessons that got them to the top.

Trailblazers

Lessons in Leadership from Legendary Black CEOs

Trailblazers introduces the world to five extraordinary Fortune 500 CEOs — Ken Chenault, American Express; Dick Parsons, Time Warner; John Thompson, Symantec; Ursula Burns, Xerox and Frank Raines, Fannie Mae — executives who set a strong example of how to live and lead well. At the turn of the millennium, they became the leaders of what were some of the biggest, most influential companies in the world.

Trailblazers tells their stories and draws out the lessons behind their rise — the resolve, the grit, and the one quality each leaned on to get to the top. What’s more, readers are given solutions to help make the corporate workplace not only more equitable, but also a bit more productive.

On sale February 2, 2027. Pre-orders open now in hardcover and audiobook.

Pre-Order a Copy!

Order yours by December 18th, 2026,

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“In Trailblazers, Roger Crockett captures the authentic reality of top CEOs — their ambitions, their quiet anxieties, and the grit required to overcome fierce opposition.”

Greg Brown, Chairman & CEO, Motorola Solutions

“a vital work of history and an indispensable guide for the next generation of ambitious outsiders determined to become our leaders.”

Jonathan Eig, Pulitzer Prize winning author of King: A Life

Trailblazers

The Book's Protagonists

Kenneth Chenault

American Express

Ken Chenault is Chairman and managing Director of General Catalyst, a venture capital firm. He is the former CEO and Chairman of American Express. He served as CEO of AmEx for a remarkable 17 years until his retirement in 2018.

Richard Parsons

AOL Time Warner

Richard "Dick" Parsons was a senior advisor to Providence Equity Partners, a former Chairman of Citigroup, and the former Chairman and CEO of AOL Time Warner, a role in which he oversaw the integration of what was then the largest merger in history.

Ursula Burns

Xerox

Ursula Burns is the former CEO and Chairwoman of Xerox. When she assumed that role in 2009, she became the first Black woman to be CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Having joined Xerox shortly after college, she quickly established herself as a formidable leader, a reputation she carried into the C-suite and beyond.

John Thompson

Symantec

John Thompson is the former CEO of Symantec, a major software company focused on data security. After serving several years as a senior executive at IBM, Thompson became one of the first Black CEOs of a prominent Silicon Valley company. He went on to serve on the board of directors for Microsoft, eventually becoming Chairman.

Frank Raines

Fannie Mae

Frank Raines became the first Black CEO of a Fortune 500 corporation in 1999, when he was appointed Chairman and CEO of mortgage giant Fannie Mae. Before the historic appointment, Raines served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget in President Bill Clinton's administration. He remains an active investor in startup companies.

Trailblazers

Lessons in Leadership from Legendary Black CEOs

Author Roger O. Crockett has had the privilege of getting to know each of these remarkable leaders. In Trailblazers, he tells their stories and provides lessons learned. He also taps into his experience working at a Fortune 500 tech titan, as the head of diversity and inclusion, to shed light on issues that plagued the workplace during their time and that remain relevant today.

On sale February 2, 2027.

Pre-orders open now in hardcover and audiobook.

Awards And Acclaim

Two-Time Peter Lisagor Award By The Society Of Professional Journalists

Two-time Peter Lisagor Award winner for outstanding reporting and writing in the global magazine category (BusinessWeek magazine). Presented by the Society of Professional Journalists.