Category: Community, Environment, Foundation Principles, Putting Our Employees First, Vendor Relationships | 14 comments
Connection. Communication. Community. The moral molecule. Passion and purpose before profits. Spreading the power of optimism. Love. These are just some of the things you would have heard if you were here during our companywide staff meeting. Leaders from across the country – about 330 of us – gathered at our headquarters for a time of inspiration, motivation and celebration. We heard presentations and conversations with people like John Mackey (Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Whole Foods Market), Bert Jacobs (Co-Founder and Chief Optimist of Life is good), Roy Spence (Co-Founder of GSD&M Idea City), Chip Conley (Founder of Joie de Vivre Hotel Group), Dr. Paul Zak (Director of the Center for Neuroeconomic Studies, author of The Moral Molecule). We also hosted Jon Sokoloff (Managing Partner of Leonard Green & Partners, our equity partner), Barb Anderson, the company’s first employee and retired VP of Stores and Dr. Sandi Chapman, the founder of UTDallas’ Center for BrainHealth, for conversations.
These and other extraordinary people from outside our company who we admire for their wisdom, and similar approach to business and life, were joined by many of our executives who shared presentations on each of our seven Foundation Principles – our guiding business philosophies. It was an opportunity to revisit what these principles really mean and how they help guide us in every decision we make for our employees, customers, vendors and community. Add in a surprise flashmob, 330 packs of Kleenex tissues, musical performances by Kip Tindell, our Chairman & CEO, and the co-founders of Umbra (a 30-year product vendor of our company), and a lot of hugs, chats about the business and connections about our personal interests with our fellow colleagues from across the country. And well, that’s just another day in the life of The Container Store and our employee-first culture!
To sum up this experience for our employees and our company is hard, but let’s try…life changing! We’ve captured many of the highlights on video and are honored, thrilled and humbled to share it with you. Enjoy!
14 responses to “It’s a New Day!”
