Expect Miracles is the personal and professional story of a leader in the worlds of business and culture. David Culver narrates his journey from his upbringing in Montreal's Golden Square Mile, through his studies at McGill and Harvard, his army service during the Second World War, to his impressive rise at Alcan to become chairman and chief executive officer of one of Canada's leading multinational corporations. The memoir provides an inside look into the management of a global company with roots deeply planted in Quebec and offers pragmatic advice on how to grow talent, foster technology, and handle adversity in a far-flung organization. Anecdotes of meeting the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Henry Kissinger, and Jawaharlal Nehru, reveal the experiences of a strong corporate leader who continued to live a Montreal life, while never losing his interest in discovering the world. A man of many interests and talents, Culver reflects on his long love affair with architecture - and his efforts to restore and preserve Montreal's heritage by creating Maison Alcan - and how music and sport helped shape his life. Expect Miracles is evidence of Culver's positive outlook and belief that the most extraordinary things can happen when you least expect them.

Né en 1924, a joint les rangs de la société Alcan en 1947, après des études à McGill et à Harvard, et en fut le président-directeur général de 1979 à 1989. M. Culver a été reçu officier de l’Ordre du Canada en 1983, Compagnon de l’Ordre du Canada en 1988, et Officier de l’Ordre national du Québec en 1990. Il a été intronisé au Temple de la renommée des hommes d’affaires canadiens et s’est vu décerner des doctorats honoris causa des universités McGill, de York et de Sherbrook

David M. Culver's profile page

Professionnel en résidence à l’École supérieure d’affaires publiques et internationales de l’Université d’Ottawa depuis 2014, au terme d’une période en tant que fonctionnaire en résidence. Il était auparavant sous-ministre adjoint aux consultations et communications au Ministère des finances du Canada. Alan est diplômé de l’Université McGill et a reçu une maîtrise en journalisme de l’Université Columbia.

Alan Freeman's profile page

“David Culver is sui generis and that is what makes reading this book such a pleasure. Consistently persuasive, in part because of the richness of detail, Expect Miracles is both highly instructive and inspiring. A truly outstanding book by an amazing human being.” William G. Bowen, president emeritus, Princeton University and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation