Comment on Node ant

Lee Mitchem — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:03:55 -0500

Would you want to invest millions of dollars on a future employee only to have them walk away four years later with several millions with nothing to show for it, or worse, with a devalued company on your hands? Golden parachutes, if poorly structure, may permit just such behavior by CEOs and other top tier executives. While the board may want the flexibility to hire and fire at their pleasure, this “flexibility” may result in a severe curtailment of the executive’s responsibility in financial stewardship for the company.

Comment on Node ant

Lee Mitchem — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:53:49 -0400

As Bono put it: "This is not charity. This is commerce." With a fraction of the sales of the high-end, possibly-high-profit, seasonal Starbucks drinks going toward helping people with AIDS in Africa and consumers using this to justify indulging in the financially guilty pleasure of a $5 cup of coffee, Starbucks and (RED) have definitely created a win-win for the not-for-profit and business sectors.

Comment on Node ant

Lee Mitchem — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:26:06 -0400

Utilizing Timberland's production demand to force positive change in an industry and countries is an important leverage tool. While it is admirable that Swartz attempts to convince his current business partners to use greener production methods, perhaps his entrenched conversion battles cause him to miss new opportunities with potential start-up businesses that already want and plan to incorporate those practices? How much entrepreneurial investing is Timberland contributing?