Kip Tindell
Co-Founder and Former CEO of The Container Store
Milton Friedman famously said that the only reason a corporation exists is to maximize returns to the shareholders... But if you myopically focus only on the shareholder, the magic is lost, the employees are not engaged, and the customers are not that happy.
Summary
This week on “Leadership Matters,” Alan was joined by a pioneer in the retail industry, leading voice in the ethical business movement, and former CEO and Co-Founder of The Container Store. Kip is now an industry leader on the forefront of advising new and established businesses on ethical practices, values-based leadership, and sustainability for both employees and stakeholders.
During his insightful conversation with Alan, Kip discusses his upbringing in Texas and first summer jobs which ultimately led him to eventually found The Container Store. Together, they dive into Kip’s outstanding moral and ethical compass which has led The Container Store to be a leader among employers in the United States and recognized by Fortune as one of the Top 100 Places to work for 19 years.
Since leaving The Container Store, Kip continues to be guided by his passion for values-based leadership and sits on multiple boards advising both established and new organizations on how to create a more sustainable future for businesses around the world.
Mentions & Resources in this Episode
Guest Bio
Kip Tindell is an author, innovator, entrepreneur, and the former CEO of the Container Store. A pioneer of the “employee first” business model and the winner of various prestigious awards like Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year in 1991 and the National Retail Federation's 1998 Innovator of the Year Award, Kip has established himself as an entrepreneur well established in his character and values. Perhaps Kip Tindell’s most notable contribution to the retail industry, however, has been his role as a leader in the “conscious capitalism” movement. Tindell’s current role as an advisor to multiple ethical business organizations is no surprise given his history as CEO of The Container Store, where the organization took an employee-first approach. Mr. Tindell is also the author of the 2014 book, Uncontainable: How Passion, Commitment, and Conscious Capitalism Built a Business Where Everyone Thrives, which delves into the lessons, principles, and tenets of Tindell’s model of business leadership and structure. Currently, Mr. Tindell also serves on multiple boards, including those of Conscious Capitalism Inc. and JUST Capital where he continues to work towards improving the lives of employees, stakeholders, and consumers