About
At its core, Capitalism is about voluntary association and collaboration, which is one of the reasons Capitalism works, why it won the battle with Socialism in the 20th Century, and why it continues to persist and flourish. But the abuses of the early 21st century (e.g. Tyco, Worlcom, Enron), the recent financial “meltdown,” and ongoing issues including the social costs of externalities, the extreme and widening gap between executive and worker compensation, among others, have undermined trust in business and confidence in Capitalism.
For several decades, companies emerging out of the culture of the 60s have been cultivating a new genre of Capitalism. This is a Capitalism that recognizes the power of purpose and the principle of interdependence. It is a Capitalism the sees leaders as stewards and facilitators. And it is a Capitalism that embraces the cocreative, generative nature of business, and is directed towards fulfilling the potential of business and the marketplace to be a powerful force for positive change. This is a Conscious Capitalism, embodied by Conscious Capitalists.
Many of these companies, their founders and leaders – such as Kip Tindell and the Container Store, John Mackey and Whole Foods Market, Chip Conley and Joie de Vivre Hotels, Sally Jewel and REI, to name a few – are purposefully coming together to share their experiences with each other, to support each other to address pressing issues they face with their companies, and to catalyze a broader Conscious Capitalism Movement, to spread the CC meme to other businesses, to the investment community, to consumers, employees, and other stakeholders.
John Mackey co-founded Conscious Capitalism, Inc. to provide a home for the Conscious Capitalism Movement and to create community and content to deepen and broaden the Movement.