This week on the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I sit down with bestselling author Eric Ries for a timely and thought-provoking conversation about leadership, mission, and the growing crisis of short-term thinking in business. Eric first transformed the entrepreneurial world with The Lean Startup. In his latest book, Incorruptible, he tackles a new challenge: why so many organizations lose sight of their purpose, compromise their values, and drift away from the very mission that made them successful in the first place. Together, we explore why many traditional business “best practices” are no longer serving leaders, employees, or society — and what it takes to build organizations that can withstand the pressures of short-term performance, protect trust, and stay anchored in their values over time. Through powerful stories, real-world examples, and surprising data, listeners learn how organizations can defend their mission, outlast competitors, and resist the economic “gravity” that pulls so many companies into compromise. From redefining profit as human flourishing to making trust and love into competitive advantages, the episode offers a blueprint for building companies that not only succeed financially, but endure. Whether you’re a founder determined to preserve your mission, or an executive seeking to build a culture of integrity, this episode is packed with practical guidance and inspiration. Tune in to discover what it truly means to become an incorruptible force for the good of your business and the good of humanity. What You’ll Learn - The perils of “best practices.” - Corruption isn’t just a crime – It’s losing your purpose. - How the moral logic of capitalism has been lost. - Redefining profit: Maximizing human flourishing. - Mission (not money) makes companies endure. - Trust and love are competitive advantages. - Governance isn’t boring. It’s your organization’s DNA. - Does growth kill mission? The risk is real. The reality does not have to be. - You can build incorruptible companies: An evidence-based business case. Podcast Timestamps (00:00) - A Special Topic and Guest (01:49) - From the Lean Start-up to Incorruptible (04:07) - Defining and Diagnosing Corruption (08:32) - The Moral Logic of Capitalism and Value Creation (13:03) - Redefining Profit and Human Flourishing (19:15) - Mission Drift and Protecting Organizational Purpose (22:01) - Outliers: Exceptional Companies and New Best Practices (25:29) - Financial Gravity, Longevity, and Employee Ownership (30:00) - Trust as Organizational Currency (34:23) - The Long Term Stock Exchange and Long-Termism (35:20) - Love, People-First Leadership, and Real Competitive Advantage (41:23) - Governance, Board Dynamics, and Creating Incorruptible Organizations (44:46) - Lessons from Case Studies: Zita Cobb and Beyond (49:16) - Closing Reflections and Practical Resources KEYWORDS Positive Leadership, Incorruptible, Integrity, Do Good to Lead Well, Long Term Thinking, Effective Governance, Market Reform, Lean Startup Method, Company Culture, Avoiding Short Term Thinking, Corruption, Capitalism, Value Creation, Shareholder Primacy, Business Ethics, Corporate Mission, Profit Redefinition, Human Flourishing, Stakeholder Alignment, Organizational Trust, Financial Gravity, Mission Controlled Companies, Organizational Character, CEO Success
