Ever since Lee Iacocca saved Chrysler from doom in the 1980s, CEOs who succeed in turnarounds are accustomed to some degree of adulation. But few become as celebrated as Carlos Ghosn, whose efforts to bring Nissan back from the brink turned him into a Japanese hero—one who's even inspired a manga comic book. Since 2005, Ghosn has served as CEO of both Nissan and Renault, making him an extreme example of a global executive. Ghosn recently received The Award for Transcultural Leadership from INSEAD, the international business school with campuses in France and Singapore. Each year, the school honors an individual who exemplifies the importance and necessity of working across borders. While in Manhattan for the awards ceremony, Ghosn talked with NEWSWEEK Chairman Richard M. Smith about the challenges facing automakers and the tricks to a turnaround. Edited excerpts:…"