About the Book
In business circles, Mark Turner, the former CEO of WSFS, is best known for having led the Delaware-based bank from a market value of $100 million to a value of $3 billion on the NASDAQ exchange, outperforming the broader market's returns many times over while steering WSFS through turbulence, crisis, and opportunity for more than two decades. Born the eighth of nine kids in a working-class Philadelphia family, Turner's childhood was a full education in determination, resilience, and the power of relationships and community-skills that carried him far and fast to CEO of a public company at the age of 44. Now in retirement, Turner delivers herein the bedrock of the bank's success: a focused, differentiating strategy; a deeply-embedded culture; and a talented, cohesive team. He also shares a hard-earned and sincere approach to personal struggles, one that emphasizes early awareness and seeking help. Through revelatory interviews with the key players who shaped this story, Turner shares a compelling narrative about a company with a clear mission and the people who drove it to enduring success. The Path to Sustained Excellence: Strategy, Culture, and Team is a tale of vision, grit, and the relentless pursuit of greatness in the face of tremendous challenges.
About the Author :
Mark Turner was born, raised, and schooled in North Philadelphia. He has spent the majority of his career in banking, primarily at WSFS Bank, where he held the roles of CFO, COO, CEO, and Executive Chair. A lifelong learner, he received degrees from LaSalle University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Nebraska; and attended many executive education experiences in the decades thereafter. Today, he serves on boards, and guest lectures at universities and executive forums. Mark likes to run, golf, read, and travel. He and his brilliant wife, Regina, VMD, PhD, live in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and together have raised two amazing daughters, Becky and Katie. Lizzie Simon is the author of the groundbreaking memoir, Detour (Atria Books). At The Wall Street Journal, she was a weekly arts columnist focusing on dance and theater. Lizzie is currently developing several television series, and working as a developmental editor and ghostwriter on a handful of memoirs-in-progress. You can find her popular weekly newsletter, Lizzie's Letter, on Substack. For more information, visit www.lizziesimon.info.
Review :
"Mark Turner and associates offer a compelling, close-in account of how to build a company dozens of times faster than its competitors through a combination of culture and character. For getting going and moving fast, here is the instructor's manual for principled growth. With gripping insider accounts of everything from CEO sabbaticals to crisis comebacks, The Path to Sustained Excellence is a driver's manual for taking charge and leading change when it really counts."
-Michael Useem, faculty director of the McNulty Leadership Program, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; and author of The Edge: How 10 CEOs Learned to Lead
"In a turbulent world, The Path to Sustained Excellence is a vivid, engaging, and inspiring story of leadership in action. I highly recommend this exceptional book to everyone running, or looking to run an organization-you will come away with actionable, invaluable insights for the present moment and for years to come."
-Ram Charan, author of 36 books including The New York Times bestseller, Execution
"Retrofitting a culture is perhaps the most difficult thing to do in business. The team at WSFS did it... and I got to witness it first hand. The Path to Sustained Excellence captures the big moves, the team building and the personal sacrifices that drove a near-broken bank on its journey to greatness."
-Ted Weschler, investment manager, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
