Publications
Publications
- Harvard Business Review
The Messy but Essential Pursuit of Purpose
By: Ranjay Gulati
Abstract
Most forward-thinking executives have embraced the notion that purpose-driven companies can solve social and environmental problems while also generating wealth, creating win-win outcomes that benefit everyone. But ideal solutions are rare. Many purpose-driven companies revert to a profit-first strategy if the going gets tough. Others doggedly pursue purpose but then find that their businesses are unsustainable. Using case studies on Etsy, Livongo, and other diverse companies, the author offers practical examples that leaders can use to think creatively about how to deliver as much benefit as possible to all their stakeholders.
Keywords
Purpose; Sustainability; Mission and Purpose; Social Issues; Environmental Sustainability; Profit; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Decision Making
Citation
Gulati, Ranjay. "The Messy but Essential Pursuit of Purpose." Harvard Business Review 100, no. 2 (March–April 2022): 45–55.