Stanford GSB: View From The Top

Outdoor retailer Patagonia is known for its outspoken environmental activism, and Rose Marcario is the driving force behind that message. She left behind a lucrative career in private equity to join the company in 2008. Now, as CEO, she’s working to cultivate the “self-examining” culture that drew her to Patagonia in the first place. Her priorities include promoting long-term thinking, instituting sustainable practices at all levels of the business, and encouraging competitors to do the same. During a visit to Stanford GSB in February of 2020, Marcario joined Tara Hill, MBA ’20, in a conversation on how Patagonia is setting a new standard for environmental stewardship. Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the Dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Microsoft CEO since 2014, Satya Nadella has helped refresh an aging tech giant, pushing the company into artificial intelligence and cloud networking. His tactics have Wall Street’s attention: on Oct. 15 the company’s stock hit an all-time high of $141.57. In his View from the Top discussion at Stanford GSB, Nadella told students that a sense of purpose is invaluable to company success, and how through relationships with others, work becomes more than transactional. Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oscar Munoz became CEO of United Airlines in 2015 — and almost immediately suffered a heart attack. He recovered to oversee the airline’s labor negotiations, continue the work of merging United’s corporate culture with that of Continental Airlines, and guide the company through a period of bad publicity. During a visit to Stanford Graduate School of Business, he discussed issues ranging from gun control to the airline’s carbon footprint — and why it’s so important to learn to listen. Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Dara Khosrowshahi fled Iran and arrived in the United States, he was 9 years old, did not speak fluent English, and was unfamiliar with the culture. With the help of sports, he assimilated — ultimately launching a business career. During a visit to Stanford Graduate School of Business, he talked about how he cultivated mentors and how he is approaching diversity and inclusion at Uber. Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ruth Porat has seen two financial crises up close: She had just started at Morgan Stanley in 1987 when the stock market crashed, forcing her to reconsider her focus on mergers and acquisitions. Then, in 2008, she was asked to serve as an advisor to the U.S. Treasury Department during the recession. During a visit to Stanford Graduate School of Business, she discussed how these experiences shaped her career and her view of leadership. Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ray Dalio founded Bridgewater Investments, the most successful hedge fund in history. But he also made mistakes — and those mistakes helped him learn to balance audacity with humility. During a visit to Stanford Graduate School of Business, he talked about the value of a system that allows competing points of view to be heard fairly. Such a system can lead to good decisions in both business and public policy. Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Venture capitalist Michael Moritz discusses his unconventional background, the value of humanities education in tech, building enduring organizations, the depth of obsession in success, and navigating the competitive landscape of venture capital.

Selling sneakers from the back of his car, Phil Knight co-founded Nike with his college track coach in 1964. During a visit to Stanford Graduate School of Business, Knight talked about the origins of his highly competitive, never-give-up attitude — and how that attitude has played out at Nike over the years. Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Diane Von Furstenberg didn’t plan a career in fashion — she just wanted to earn her own money. Staying open to new ideas led to her starting the DVF clothing line. During a visit to Stanford Graduate School of Business, Von Furstenberg explained how she got started — and what helped her rebuild her business when she “lost it all.” Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When it comes to “moral victories,” Rahm Emanuel, the current mayor of Chicago and former White House chief of staff, will have none of it. “Our party likes to be right, even if they lose,” he says. During a one-hour View From The Top discussion with Ben Kohlmann, MBA '17, at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Emanuel sketched his vision for the Democratic Party and offered advice to future business executives on why they should be ruthless when making deals. Listen to the podcast episode from Emanuel's conversation at View From The Top. Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the Dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.