The cycling wins were fake. But the cancer was real. Lance Armstrong comments on the controversy at Livestrong's 15th Anniversary gala, and Livestrong's Doug Ulman says Armstrong isn't going anywhere.
Despite stepping down as chairman from the cancer charity, Armstrong will attend its 15th anniversary gala and host a dinner for top supporters at his house. Livestrong CEO Doug Ulman explains why.
Two years ago, in the midst of an exhaustive federal criminal investigation into Lance Armstrong’s alleged doping and a cover-up, Fast Company explored the question, “Can Livestrong Survive Lance?” Today, that question is perhaps more poignant than ever.
If you haven't worn one yourself, it's highly likely you've at least seen a yellow Livestrong wristband. The ubiquitous bracelets are as much a fashion statement as they are a call for solidarity. But seven years ago, the Lance Armstrong Foundation thought the fund-raising wristband, a collaborative effort by Nike and Wieden+Kennedy, would be an absolute dud.
Doug Ulman knew this day was coming, the day that Lance Armstrong retired from cycling. In fact, Ulman, the CEO of Livestrong, had experienced it once before in 2005. What's different about Armstrong's retirement this time, though, is that he's now the subject of a federal investigation.
Everyone knows the yellow wristband from Lance Armstrong's cancer crusade. But his foundation's colossal win for cancer research should have greater impact, starting this year.
This identify shift in recent years led to the ubiquitous yellow wrist bands, nearly tripled revenue, accelerated an evolution into a global cancer force, and moved the outfit beyond its famous founder. In the midst of an ongoing federal inquiry into Lance Armstrong, that strategy is now critical.
The world's most famous cancer survivor has been his foundation's biggest asset, even as it grew into an innovative force in health care. Now his legal troubles may make him a risk.
