Leaving a Legacy - Many values-driven entrepreneurs find themselves asking, “Should I stay or should I go?” They wonder if their value-driven companies can continue without them.

As I researched leadership among pioneers and company founders such as Anita Roddick of The Body Shop, Seth Goldman of Honest Tea, Jeffrey Hollender of Seventh Generation, Gary Hirshberg of Stoneyfield Farm, and others, a topic that came up frequently was that of legacy and succession. You see there comes a point with most entrepreneurs when they start envisioning the next big idea, long to explore other possibilities, or sense the company could benefit from new leadership to take it to the next level.

The Evolution of Leadership - A look at where leadership is heading

Leadership has been a significant presence in the recorded history of humans and it is one of the world’s oldest obsessions, rivaling in age the very emergence of civilization. The topic of leadership is familiar to all peoples and it knows no cultural boundaries.

Can, Should Business Lead the Way to a Sustainable Future? - Who do you trust more, global corporations or the government?

In an interesting article titled “Will Green Corporate Giants Achieve What Governments Can't?” on greenbiz.com by Marc Gunther, the author explores the great strides many major, global corporations have made recently in the area of sustainability and he discusses the trend that some of these organizations are now “setting policy” which was once the domain of government (e.g., Walmart setting packaging standards versus the EPA).

What Really is Sustainability? - Ask 10 different people to define sustainability and you may get a dozen definitions.

The term sustainability is a broad concept, that even today with all the attention it is getting, can be ambiguously defined. For the average business leader and consumer the term is so convoluted it makes it difficult for individuals to deliver informed decisions.

Roundtable Guest Comments

“Bringing my leadership team to the Roundtable was like a one-day intensive retreat: we left with new ideas we were ready to implement as a team.” - Jeff Swallow, CEO, Magnetrol

"I liked how David Small was able to share his experiences at McDonald’s with the audience and tie direct benefits his company gained from using Bob Johansen’s concepts. This was probably the best take home value for me. I attend several business forums and conferences every year and have learned a great deal about business principles, strategies and trends. The challenge for many CEO’s is how do you apply the learning and execute action plans within your organization. It was rewarding to have a business leader from McDonald’s as part of the program to support the concepts discussed."- Jeffrey Sanfilippo, CEO, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.

"The Roundtable provides the best of both worlds. You have the opportunity to listen to thought-provoking speakers who are renowned in their field. You also have the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas with your peers, both from within and outside of your own organization. It is a great learning opportunity." - Kevin Lynch, CFO, Pritzker Realty Group

"The keynote speaker, Bob Johansen, was superb. He provided the type of creative thinking and insight executives need to guide their businesses." - Bill Kohley, EVP, Spraying Systems Inc.




Roundtable Guests, September 16, 2010

The following companies participated in the September 2010 Roundtable,
featuring Jim Kouzes:

Accenture
Corporate Insights
Elkay Manufacturing
Equity Group Investments LLC
EW Scripps Company
Fairwyn Investments
Flynn & Tirona
Forsythe Technology, Inc.
Jarden Branded Consumables
JKB Capital
Magnetrol
National Vanlines
Performance Trust Investment Advisers, LLC
Pritzker Realty Group, L.P.
Tellabs
Texas Health Resources
TLC Leadership Options
Tru Vue, Inc.
Return to the Roundtables page here.

Roundtable Guests, June 16, 2011

The following companies participated in the June 2011 Roundtable,
featuring Bob Johansen & David Small:

AAP Mental Health Resources
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Benedictine University | College of Business
Benedictine University | Moser College of Adult & Prof. Studies
Benedictine University | School of Education
Bison Gear & Engineering
CBR Consulting
Cincinnati State Community College
Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago
CVDL Strategic Partner
edtec central
Elkay Manufacturing 
Fahey Associates, Inc.
Faith In Action
G. Murphy & Associates, Inc.
Integrated Project Management
Italian Trade Commission
John B Sanfilippo & Son
Karen W Farley Inc.
Magnetrol - event sponsor
Marketplace Chaplains
McDonald's Corporation
Media Moire
Molex Inc.
Mosaic Consulting
NES Rentals Holdings, INC
Otis Williams Limitless
Pritzker Realty Group
RBS Citizens, NA
Serenity Packaging Corp.
Spray Systems
Tata Consultancy Services
The Financial Group
TLC Leadership Options, Inc.
Tru Vue, Inc.
US Cellular

Find more about this event here