Whole Foods CEO John Mackey Discusses ‘Conscious Capitalism’

“We believe that business is good because it creates value, it is ethical because it is based on voluntary exchange, it is noble because it can elevate our existence, and it is heroic because it lifts people out of poverty and creates prosperity. Free‐​enterprise capitalism is the most powerful system for social cooperation and human progress ever conceived. It is one of the most compelling ideas we humans have ever had. But we can aspire to something even greater,” say Mackey and Sisodia, cofounders of the nonprofit Conscious Capitalism. In their new book, they illustrate how the forces of “conscious capitalism” can — and do — work most powerfully to create value for all stakeholders, including customers, employees, suppliers, investors, society, and the environment. These “Conscious Capitalism” companies include Whole Foods Market, Southwest Airlines, Costco, Google, Patagonia, The Container Store, UPS, and dozens of others. It’s time to better understand how these organizations use four specific tenets — higher purpose, stakeholder integration, conscious leadership, and conscious culture and management — to build strong businesses and help advance capitalism further toward realizing its highest potential. Mackey and Sisodia argue that aspiring leaders and business builders need to continue on this path of transformation — for the good of both business and society as a whole. At once a bold defense and reimagining of capitalism and a blueprint for a new system for doing business grounded in a more evolved ethical consciousness, this book provides a new lens for individuals and companies looking to build a more cooperative, humane, and positive future.