What can the Mafia teach the legitimate businessman? That’s the question we ask in the November issue of Be Inkandescent.

Thanks to insights from former mobster —and our Entrepreneur of the Month—Louis Ferrante, we gain insight into the surprisingly effective management techniques used by the Mob, and how we can all apply them to our businesses.

Sound like a wild ride? We think so, which is why we were thrilled to interview the former associate of the Gambino family who relied on his instincts and management prowess to pull off some of the biggest heists in US history. Scroll down for our Q&A. And don’t miss our podcast interview with Ferrante on the Inkandescent Radio Network.

In this issue we give you insights into the game of risk:

• “Personality Poker,” by management expert Stephen Shapiro, explains the breakthrough he had while working with a Formula One race-car team in London. What if innovation teams could work as efficiently and predictably as the pit crews who service the race cars? Read all about it in Management.

• “God Doesn’t Shoot Craps,” is a divine comedy by DC author Richard Armstrong that imagines a gambling system that wins every time. Based on Parrondo’s paradox, this thoughtful novel teaches us how to make it big without losing our souls. Don’t miss our Q&A with Armstrong in Books.

• Queen Esther wasn’t just a biblical sage—she was a great business strategist, as we learned last month in our review of What Queen Esther Knew. This month, we talk to Lilian Broca, the artist who was inspired to create mosaics of Queen Esther, and other powerful Biblical women, including Judith and Lilith, in Fine Art.

• Why do some girls give up on their dreams by the time they finish high school? Ana Dutra explains in Research.

• Tomorrow’s Lemonade Stand took a page from Dutra’s playbook. Determined not to let her daughter lose sight of what she wants in life, Amanda Antico brainstormed with her then 7-year-old daughter, Kylee, and came up with an organization that is engaging hundreds of child-preneurs across the country. Learn all about their organization and these two Truly Amazing Women.

• Talk about preparing for the future! If you have kids, planning ahead for college is high on your to-do list. Financial advisor Carmen Wu offers a four-step plan in Retirement.

As we gear up for the holiday season, we leave you with some food for thought from “Mob Rules:” A career of banditry in early youth often indicated a man of strong character and purpose.

As my husband Mike and I tell our kids, you have to master the rules before you can break them. Here’s to rocking the status quo—and to a wonderful month of giving thanks. — Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, Be Inkandescent • Illustrations by Michael Gibbs