Image - the speaker and his book cover
San Francisco
Live Stream

Eric Ries: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great

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What if the most radical idea in business is that purpose is the best tool for unlocking long-term growth? And what if the secret to sustaining your organization's integrity is readily available if you look in the right places?

In his new book Incorruptible, Eric Ries reveals the hidden forces that he says cause even great organizations to drift from their original reason for being. Then he shows how to design businesses that can withstand that pressure. Drawing on two decades of work with founders, CEOs and investors, he exposes the flaws that make companies vulnerable to short-term thinking. He offers a blueprint for "mission-controlled" organizations that can grow, prosper, and endure without losing their soul.

Using lessons gleaned from generations-old retailers and manufacturers to recently founded tech sector stars, Ries reframes the ethical longevity of business as a practical design problem. He provides every builder—founder, executive, investor or citizen—"a playbook to help avoid the inevitable pitfalls” (according to Mark Cuban) and the tools to create enterprises that uplift rather than exploit. He explores positive case studies such as Cost Plus Drugs, Costco, Hershey’s, Khan Academy, REI and others; he also delves into cautionary tales from Cadbury, J. Crew, Gateway, The Limited, Polaroid, Sears and Whole Foods.

Success alone will not protect what matters most; Ries says only incorruptible design can. 

Notes

This program has 2 types of tickets available: in-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.

If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

Photo courtesy of the speaker.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.

Mon, Jun 22 / 6:00 PM PDT

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California
Taube Family Auditorium
110 The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

Speakers
Image - Eric Ries

Eric Ries

 Entrepreneur; Author, Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great

Image - Scott Cook

In Conversation with Scott Cook

Co-founder and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Intuit

Format

5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
6–7 p.m. program
7 p.m. book signing 
(all times Pacific Time)

COST

Members receive 30–50 percent discounts (not a member? Join)

In-person:
$25
$57 with a book
Free for Leadership Circle members and students (without a book)

Online:
$10
$42 with a book
Free for Leadership Circle members and students (without a book)