These six leaders stepped into their top jobs at a time of enormous challenge. Here's what each of them has to say about their approach to passing today's tough test and setting the agenda for the future. Alison Overholt page 52
Dr. Irwin Redlener has spent his career devising solutions to large-scale problems of health care for disenfranchised children. The latest expression of his single-minded agenda combines excellence in pediatric care with cutting-edge design, the latest technology, and the worldview of Carl Sagan. Polly LaBarre page 64
Commerce Bank is one of America's best-performing financial institutions, with a stock that grew more than 2,000% in 10 years. It is also America's most convenient bank, with a fanatical commitment to "wowing" its customers. Chuck Salter page 80
How do you refresh a 243-year-old brand? By brewing a modern experience that combines the power of history with the allure of contemporary design. Guinness Storehouse, in Dublin, reimagines how a brand can perform for customers, employees, and the community. Scott Kirsner page 92
We've all heard the same Enron story: executives at the top behaving badly, victims at the bottom losing their savings. But the truth is in the middle. Charles Fishman page 102
Got soy? Scott Lutz and his colleagues at 8th Continent aim to create an innovative player in a fast-growing segment of the food business. The formula: Use the clout of their corporate parents (DuPont and General Mills) and the brains of executives who think different. Linda Tischler page 32
No company likes to dismiss its talented employees because of a rotten economy. But there's a way to keep people working with you even after they stop working for you. Here is a five-point program on how to build a successful alumni network for your company. Christine Canabou page 28
Two New York architects are using design to address pressing social challenges -- for the homeless, for war refugees, even for public-school kids. Here's their blueprint. Curtis Sittenfeld page 38
TV advertising is tired. Internet banners have stopped clicking. What's next? Play the "advergame." America's addiction to video games is leading the way to a brand-new advertising platform with astounding click-through rates, play times, and peer-to-peer potential. Anni Layne Rodgers page 46
Want to know how to avoid being fooled by the next too-good-to-be-true stock-market darling? Just remember these six tips from the cynics of Wall Street, the short sellers. George Anders page 120
The worst thing about recent business scandals is their lingering aftereffect: How can you move forward when you don't know who you can depend on? Karl E. Weick says the answer is inside highly reliable organizations. For them, uncertainty is the ''good stuff.'' Keith H. Hammonds page 124
That's one possible conclusion in the wake of the Enron scandal. According to David Maister, who's been studying professional-services firms for more than 20 years, it's time to clear the air. Alan M. Webber page 130
Enron is the latest blockbuster in a series of scandals that have provoked shock, outrage, and calls for reform. This Web-exclusive report profiles leading characters from earlier crises. You'll meet the enforcer who cleaned up the S&L mess. You'll encounter and innocent victim of Charles Keating. You'll hear from a voice in the wilderness who warned about the Internet bubble. And you'll meet the whistler-blower whose story became the basis of a major motion picture. Can their ideas prevent the next scandal?
The "Best of the Best" gets even better online, with a collection of Web-exclusive archives and updates of people and companies featured in past issues.
SEI Investments, featured four years ago in our Best of the Best issue, makes big money by helping other financial institutions manage their money. Its formula? Free-flowing teams, cutting-edge technology and fast change. Learn more in our A - Z Fast Companies Directory.
