The new book · September 22, 2026
Disrupters at the gate
When Visionaries, Trailblazers, and Two Guys in a Garage Turn the World Upside Down
By Jeffrey I. Cole and Harlan J. Lebo
Ideapress, distributed by Simon & Schuster
Order the bookAbout the book
Every industry that has been upended saw it coming from the wrong direction.
Incumbents watch each other; the threat comes from visionaries, trailblazers and two people in a garage nobody had heard of. Drawing on case studies from BlackBerry's collapse to the digital music revolution to Ozempic's shake-up of pharmaceuticals, Cole traces what the incumbents saw, when they saw it, and why they still acted too late.
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Praise for the book
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Reviews
“My business is focused on helping leaders strategically navigate disruptions in their businesses, so it’s probably no surprise that I really appreciate Disrupters at the Gate. It is full of great storytelling, but more importantly, it is storytelling with a purpose. Since all industries are ripe for disruption, anyone in business leadership, or aspiring to leadership, would benefit from the lessons taught in Disrupters at the Gate. I highly recommend the book.”Russell McGuireClear Purpose Read the review
“Some of Cole and Lebo's most interesting -- and most valuable -- material is provided in Chapter 13 when they share their thoughts about what they characterize as "the four types of human disruption”.”Robert MorrisAmazon review Read the review
“Whether you are thinking of investing in the disruptors or the disrupted, or are just worried about your job, reading Disruptors At the Gate will be well worth your time – it’s a profound and original book, packed full of fresh ideas.”Matthew PartridgeMoneyWeek Read the review
On stage
The signature talk for 2026
Disrupters at the Gate is also Jeffrey's signature keynote, built on the case studies in the book.
See the keynote