Scarlett’s Revenge: Business Strategy for a Disruptive World

Have you ever shared something personal with a colleague or friend who later weaponized that information against you?

Scarlett’s Revenge: Business Strategy for a Disruptive World by William Putsis & David Edelheit is a compelling read and a novel approach to a business strategy book.

The book frames business strategy as a story about two college friends turned rivals and the betrayals, ambition and revenge that followed.

A few things stood out to me while reading this book:

1. The importance of early relationships on professional networks.
An early college years betrayal between the two characters in this book provides the spark for a lifelong competition. It reminded me that the relationships we form early in life often ripen into professional connections, opportunities and sometimes liabilities.

2. Revenge as business strategy (and its cost)?
In this story, the character who was wronged turns her resentment and ambition into a weapon: tech startup, disruption, mission to “topple” the other. While her revenge is satisfying to her, victory doesn’t seem to redeem the original wound. This makes the reader question: how often business strategy is driven by personal ego or “I’ll show you,” rather than by integrity, service or vision for positive impact?

3. The perspective of business strategy having emotional terrain.
Rather than a typical “how to” business book, this is a strategy manual wrapped in a novel. The authors describe it as “part thriller, part masterclass in disruption,” which is a fresh blend. And it made me reflect on how many leadership decisions and business turns can be reactions to internal or emotional dynamics, in addition to external factors like market forces, customer need, or competitive advantage.

4. Wanting to see their best selves; often seeing their lowest.
I wanted these characters to learn, grow, and triumph with grace over time; instead, they responded again and again with ego-driven power plays. I found myself wishing for more redemption arcs or “above the line” leadership behaviors: integrity, reflection, connection, collaboration. This book offered the perspective that the business world sometimes looks like this and maybe we need to talk about that more.

I recommend reading this book for several reasons:
► It offers a different lens (story + strategy + emotional dynamics) on competitive strategy and innovation.
► If you care about networks, legacy, the interplay of personal and professional life, it’s a reminder that hidden drivers and emotions matter.
► It makes readers question: What drives our decisions? Are we reacting or creating? When it comes to competitive strategy in your role, team or business, what truly fuels you?