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Layered Leadership

Drive Double-Digit Growth and Dominate Your Competition with Creative Strategies and Execution

Published by Matt Holt Books
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

From one of the world’s most successful global leaders in architecture and design, discover a holistic, humanist approach to leadership centering on an unwavering commitment to developing well-rounded leaders within any organization.

Larwrence Armstrong’s vision for competitive excellence is animated by investing in and caring about the development of the whole person and their surrounding community. Under his creative, layer-based approach, Ware Malcomb has become a global leader in the industrial building sector—one of the world’s most successful and admired businesses of its kind.

Now, in Layered Leadership, Lawrence distills the secrets and internal processes of Ware Malcomb’s “whole brain leadership” culture and its fearless Strategic Growth strategy, teaching companies of all kinds how to:
  • Synthesize influences, metaphors, and life lessons into a style of leadership
  • Build a mentoring culture that coaches and supports rising leaders
  • Protect executive time for creative work
  • Drive consistent growth through up and down economic cycles
  • Find your formula for greatness and deploy it to attract, keep, and expand business
  • Implement succession strategies that stick

When people can bring their whole selves to work, cultivate their diverse capabilities, and identify their best career opportunities, they’re on the path to becoming great leaders—and building a surrounding culture of success. An accessible handbook featuring illustrations by Larry, also an accomplished artist, Layered Leadership is an evidence-based guide to raising leaders who will prove instrumental to all kinds of companies’ success.

About The Author

Lawrence R. Armstrong is the chair on the Board of Directors for Ware Malcomb. In the spirit of the Renaissance, Armstrong is an admired executive and an accomplished artist whose work is exhibited in multiple galleries. He is a community leader fighting homelessness, a teacher, mentor, and a charitable leader for his alma mater Kent State. Larry’s art has been exhibited around the world for over 10 years at venues such as the Agora Gallery and Grimandi Art Gallery in New York City, the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Galleria 360 in Florence, Italy, SOFA Art Fair in Chicago, Galleria Azur in Madrid, and the Artblend Summer Exhibit in Fort Lauderdale, among many others.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Matt Holt Books (April 16, 2025)
  • Length: 256 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781637746356

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Raves and Reviews

“A master class in growth. Growing annual revenues? Yes. Growing one’s skill set from managing a paper route to owning and leading a company with $100 million a year in revenues and offices across the world? Yes . . . On each and every page of his valuable book, Armstrong layers authenticity on top of humility, ability, and success to build an imminently useful how-to manual for work and life.
—Todd Diacon, President, Kent State University

Layered Leadership captures the key to building successful organizations by developing well-rounded leaders. This book shares valuable strategies for encouraging creativity and driving steady growth, no matter the economic climate . . . offering a fresh perspective on leadership that’s both practical and inspirational.”
—Ted Antenucci, President and CEO, Catellus Development Corporation

“Larry’s insight into how you bring your whole self into any endeavor is inspiring. In Layered Leadership, we all now have the opportunity to learn how to infuse creativity, discipline, humanity, and passion into everything we do . . . including addressing complex societal issues such as homelessness.”
—Susan B. Parks, President and CEO, OC United Way

“A transformative guide for modern leaders seeking to inspire and drive real change. Larry’s extensive experience in guiding high-performing teams shines through, offering actionable insights and strategies that blend visionary thinking with practical application. This book is essential for executives and managers aiming to build resilient, innovative teams and achieve sustained success.”
—Lew Horne, President, Advisory Services, CBRE, GLA-OC-IE

“A must-have for leaders focused on sustainable growth and building a lasting legacy of excellence. Larry’s experience as an artist enriches his approach to leadership, blending creativity with strategic foresight.
—Dick Gochnauer, former CEO, Essendant

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