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What happens when a company's mission statement contradicts its legal structure?
You can promise to put customers first, care for employees, and build something meaningful. But if your governance is designed to prioritize shareholder returns above everything else, those promises may not hold up.
A company's true purpose isn't just what it says in its mission statement. It's what its legal structure and governance actually protect.
Maria Rotilu and I discuss on The Startup Leap Podcast why founders need to think carefully about what they're committing to when they incorporate their companies.
#IncorruptibleBook #CorporateGovernance #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #MissionDriven
Listen to the full conversation:
Youtube: buff.ly/txCaeM1
Spotify: buff.ly/BEGH2yo
Apple Podcasts: buff.ly/vVabdqR
Speaking at the Masters of Scale Summit at the Presidio Theatre today. howisincorruptiblegoing.com/…
At the Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco tomorrow, Thursday 10/22. howisincorruptiblegoing.com/…
Juho Makkonen, co-founder of Sharetribe: "Essentially, it’s a book about steward-ownership." incorruptible.co
ALT Poster titled The Stewards on Incorruptible: quotes from B Corp, steward-ownership and public benefit corporation leaders.
If you're interviewing for a job, steal these two questions from me.
Ask whether the company is mission-driven. Then ask how they know.
It's easy for organizations to talk about their values, but are those commitments actually written into their corporate charter?
These simple questions can reveal what a company truly stands for. And sometimes, just asking them can push leaders to reconsider how seriously they take their mission.
The more people who ask, the harder it becomes for companies to ignore the question.
#Incorruptible #leadership #business
Anthropic is committing 5% of its shares to a new Public Benefit Fund (pending stockholder approval), growing as the company grows. A public-benefit commitment written into ownership itself. anthropic.com/news/public-be…
When is the right time for founders to start thinking about governance?
Too many entrepreneurs are told to focus on product-market fit, fundraising, and growth first, leaving governance for later.
But as companies grow, the pressures and challenges only increase. Waiting for the perfect moment can mean losing the opportunity to protect the company you set out to build.
Scott Albro, Craig Rosenberg, and I discuss on The Transaction why it's never too early to build the structures that protect your company's mission.
#IncorruptibleBook #CorporateGovernance #Startups #BusinessStrategy #MissionDriven
Listen to the full podcast here:
Youtube: buff.ly/lIr0jr3
Spotify: buff.ly/4CxIpJ8
Apple Podcasts: buff.ly/chJvgc1
Trent Wakenight's graphic recording of Eric Ries's talk at the Responsive Conference in Oakland on Sept 23. Art: @MarkerNinja howisincorruptiblegoing.com/…
ALT Hand-drawn graphic recording of Eric Ries's Incorruptible talk at the Responsive Conference, 23 Sept 2026, with sketched notes on mission, governance, culture and collective action.
Readers keep sharing photos of Incorruptible from all over the world, from Bogotá and Basel to Denpasar and Steinkjer. Here are some of my favorites.
ALT Poster: In Readers' Hands. Twenty photos readers shared of Incorruptible around the world, each credited with name and location.
What if the thing growing your revenue is actually killing your business?
Groupon built its success on a simple promise: one email a day with a great local deal. But as the company chased more revenue, one email became two, then three, then eight.
The numbers looked good in the short term, but customers started unsubscribing.
The lesson? More revenue doesn't always mean more value. Sometimes the very thing driving growth is quietly destroying your most valuable asset: customer trust.
#Incorruptible #Leadership #Business
Kindle: geni.us/4yjqS
Hardcover: buff.ly/8w7ImXn
Looking forward to joining Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco, October 20–22!
Building companies that last requires more than great ideas. It takes a willingness to challenge assumptions, rethink how organizations operate, and continuously learn from one another.
I'm excited to connect with founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are pushing boundaries and exploring new approaches to innovation, leadership, and long-term growth.
Grateful to @ReidHoffman, Jeff Berman, and the @mastersofscale team for bringing together such a thoughtful community. Looking forward to the conversations ahead!
#MoSSummit #Summit2026
Speaking at the Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco next Thursday, 10/22. howisincorruptiblegoing.com/…
A Goodreads reviewer on Incorruptible: "why do so many companies enshittify? Why do they betray the principles that are foundational to their success?" howisincorruptiblegoing.com/…
ALT Quote card from a Goodreads reviewer: Really interesting premise that resonated strongly: why do so many companies enshittify? Why do they betray the principles that are foundational to their success?
Thank you to Inc. for Thursday in Dallas: a book signing, then a fireside chat with Janet Napolitano at the Inc. 5000 Conference. howisincorruptiblegoing.com/…
Sami Mäkeläinen in his Children of the Magenta review of Incorruptible: "the most practical book about the structural rot in modern capitalism I've read" howisincorruptiblegoing.com/…
ALT Quote card: However, what followed was the most practical book about the structural rot in modern capitalism I've read, and more importantly, how it can be fought. To my surprise, it turns out it can be fought. Sami Mäkeläinen, Children of the Magenta.
Leah Solivan, founder of TaskRabbit: "As a mission-driven founder, this is the book I wish I’d had while building." More founders and CEOs on Incorruptible: incorruptible.co
ALT Poster titled The Builders on Incorruptible: quotes about the book from founders and CEOs, led by Joel Gascoigne of Buffer.
Looking forward to joining Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco, October 20–22!
Some of the most important ideas about the future of business emerge when founders, leaders, and innovators come together to challenge conventional thinking and learn from one another.
I'm excited to be part of those conversations, explore what it takes to build organizations that can innovate, adapt, and thrive over the long term, and connect with people who are rethinking how we build and lead.
Thanks to @reidhoffman, Jeff Berman, and the @mastersofscale team for bringing this community together. See you in San Francisco!
#MoSSummit #Summit2026