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  • Harvard Business Review

The Messy but Essential Pursuit of Purpose

By: Ranjay Gulati
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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.
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About The Author

Ranjay Gulati

Organizational Behavior
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More from the Author

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    Volkswagen and Suzuki: A Match Made in Heaven (A)? and An Alliance Breaks Down (B1, B2)

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    Transforming BlackBerry: From Smartphones to Software

    By: Ranjay Gulati and Eppa Rixey
    • 2022
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    Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies

    By: Ranjay Gulati
More from the Author
  • Volkswagen and Suzuki: A Match Made in Heaven (A)? and An Alliance Breaks Down (B1, B2) By: Ranjay Gulati and Bradley Turner
  • Transforming BlackBerry: From Smartphones to Software By: Ranjay Gulati and Eppa Rixey
  • Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies By: Ranjay Gulati
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