Leaders & Laggards: A Look at Success and Missteps
“Leaders & Laggards” examines individuals who have leveraged strong values and decisive action to drive positive change—versus those who have failed to do so.
Leaders: Setting the Standard
Charles Prince, Chairman & CEO, Citigroup
Prince has led Citigroup—a former symbol of Wall Street excess—back to credibility through both words and actions. His five-point ethics plan, “Our Shared Responsibilities,” demonstrates a real commitment to restoring trust in the company’s vast operations. More importantly, Prince is backing up this initiative with concrete steps, reinforcing Citigroup’s renewed focus on integrity and accountability.
A.G. Lafley, Chairman & CEO, Procter & Gamble
Lafley has taken P&G’s performance to new heights by shifting its innovation strategy from an “invent from within” model to a more collaborative, “connect and develop” approach. This philosophy has been especially relevant in P&G’s $54 billion acquisition of Gillette, a move that expanded the company’s reach while reinforcing its customer-focused mission. The emphasis on strategic partnerships has positioned P&G as a forward-thinking leader in its industry.
Martha Stewart: A Comeback Story
Prison has a way of humbling even the most prominent figures, and Martha Stewart is no exception. Instead of relying solely on legal maneuvering, Stewart took control of her own redemption arc, leveraging her brand’s enduring strength to stage a successful comeback. Her resurgence proves a fundamental truth: If you’re facing a crisis, ensure your brand, product, or character remains strong enough for people to believe in you during the tough times.
Laggards: A Masterclass in Missteps
Derek Smith, Chairman & CEO, ChoicePoint
Under Smith’s leadership, ChoicePoint has become a cautionary tale of mismanagement and ethical failure. With SEC and federal investigations, insider trading allegations, customer complaints, and lawsuits piling up, the company is in shambles. The most shocking part? The board has yet to take decisive action. For a business built on handling sensitive customer data, ChoicePoint’s biggest failure isn’t a data breach—it’s the erosion of trust.
Bernie Ebbers & Scott Sullivan: WorldCom’s Disgrace
The former WorldCom executives remain two of the most infamous figures in corporate fraud history. Their massive accounting scandal caused billions in losses and shattered investor confidence. The worst part? Even now, their saga continues to drag on in court, serving as a painful reminder of corporate greed at its worst. If there were ever an indicator of business failure no one wants to claim, it’s the ongoing “Executives on Trial” drama.
Harry Stonecipher, Former President & CEO, Boeing
Stonecipher was brought out of retirement to help restore Boeing’s reputation after past scandals—only to be fired himself for an extramarital affair with a female employee. The irony is staggering. When a leader is tasked with rebuilding trust, personal misjudgments can undo years of work in an instant. To Boeing’s credit, the company’s board acted swiftly, proving that accountability still matters in leadership.
Final Thoughts
Leadership isn’t just about holding a title—it’s about earning trust, making tough decisions, and upholding values even in difficult times. While leaders like Prince, Lafley, and Stewart demonstrate resilience and strategy, figures like Smith, Ebbers, and Stonecipher serve as reminders of how ethical failures can define legacies more than successes ever could.