Books

“Christine Arena buttresses a forceful argument that companies that care about more than making money can still succeed.”

– Publisher’s Weekly

“[Christine Arena] finds the visionary risk-takers hedging their business growth and future on environmental and social goals.”

– USA Today

“Christine Arena ably demonstrates how some companies that crow the loudest about do-gooding don’t pass the test of true corporate responsibility.”

– Stock Futures & Options Magazine

Illustrated with profiles of dozens of major companies, this book teaches readers
to easily distinguish between true and false corporate responsibility
– revealing a new path towards higher profits and long-term success.

The High-Purpose Company proves that corporate responsibility is not just a hot topic of the moment, but rather an essential means to superior business results. It draws a clear line in the sand between the extraordinary companies driven by purposeful ideals and those companies that merely pretend to be responsible, enabling readers not only to easily distinguish between the two groups, but to see why and how the world’s worthiest corporations are also some of the wealthiest.

Using a groundbreaking methodology, Arena and her research team conducted thousands of hours of analysis on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of 75 well-known firms – from Exxon to Microsoft, Nike and DuPont. What they discovered surprised even them —it’s not always the obvious companies, in ecologically-friendly areas of business, that are truly the most responsible. Ben & Jerry’s or Tyco? Ford or GE? Wal-Mart or Gap? The results of this study defy long-held myths, rewrite rules, reframe strategic priorities, and reveal a new breed of business.

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“Christine Arena raises our sights and expectations. The cycle of virtue she describes is rooted in real case studies, not wishful thinking.”

– Richard D. Parsons, former CEO of Time Warner

“Presents fascinating insights into a new paradigm for business success in the twenty-first century.”

– Bradley Abelow, global head of operations of Goldman Sachs

“This is a rare book packed with useful information. Read it. Keep it close.”

– John O’Neil, president of the Center for Leadership Renewal

Through exclusive interviews with company leaders and real-world data,
this book demonstrates how solving the world’s problems can help improve
a company’s health, growth and competitive edge.

Cause for Success reveals the moral renaissance that is driving more corporate leaders to prioritize social and environmental performance. Through the first-hand perspectives of ten remarkable individuals – including BP group chief executive Lord John Browne, Interface chairman Ray Anderson, Avon chairman and chief executive Andrea Jung, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters president and CEO Bob Stiller, Stonyfield Farm chief executive Gary Hirshberg, The Grameen Bank founder Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Timberland president and chief executive Jeffrey Swartz – it demonstrates what it takes to transform traditional capitalist institutions into powerful engines for positive change.

The book profiles two case-study companies per chapter, exploring radical ideas about why ethics-driven companies are today’s business trendsetters, how standing up for social justice garners competitive advantage, the bottom-line benefits of serving the world’s poor, the potential business rewards of philanthropic partnerships, as well as how some of the worst corporate citizens have become some of the best.