There is a saying in Buddhism, that life is a never-ending cycle of praise and blame, gain and loss, fame and disrepute, pleasure and pain. Last year, they were the hottest thing on Wall Street, but 2014 has been a trying year for Whole Foods Market.
About 18 months ago, I had the pleasure of hosting Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb for a conversation with about 400 people from the Ross Business School community. I do believe that Whole Foods, despite an increasingly difficult competitive environment, is the real deal. They are committed to making a big difference through their core business to their employees, the environment and the communities in which they work. Walter Robb, for his part, is one of the most genuine and skilled leaders I have had the privilege to meet. This wide-ranging and fun discussion elaborates on Walter’s approach to leadership, and the role of business in society.
Full video here!