James Rhee | How To Turn A National Chain Store & A Life Around By Being Kind - And Doing Some Math

Here is a business story, that is really a humanitarian story, but overall is an incredible story of drive I believe you’ll be inspired and equipped by. The story would make a great movie, and since my guest actually roomed with Matt Damon in college, it just might become one. James Rhee’s parents migrated to America from Korea. James was driven to excel and please his parents, so he got into Harvard. But he really wanted to teach, so he then taught high school for a couple years. Some of his most rewarding years he says. But then he went back to Harvard and graduated from law school. But he realized he didn’t want to be a lawyer so he became an investment banker. He did well, but realized he didn’t want to do that either. So he worked in private equity. He did well. Very well. He appreciated helping businesses, but didn’t like how disconnected he was from everything. So he quit and didn’t know what to do. Then he ends up in an unlikely place - as CEO of Ashley Stewart, a fashion retailer that served plus-size, predominantly middle- and lower-income Black women. And the company was at its end. The death knell had sounded. James came in for what was supposed to be six months because he felt an obligation to help. He ended up there for seven years with a miracle turnaround story that he’s now described in a book called Red Helicopter: Lead Change With Kindness. You'll hear a very personal story of James' drive, from healthy to unhealthy. You'll hear about how Ashley Stewart went from death to stardom because it became a place and brand of belonging, not fashion. You'll hear how success came, not from communication, but connection. And most of all you'll hear how goodwill is the bridge to not only wild success, but abiding joy. Today James Rhee teaches at Howard University, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Duke Law School. His TED Talk and Dare to Lead interview with Brené Brown have reached millions. It was an honor to spend a couple hours with him and as you’ll hear at the end of the show we’re planning a t-shirt campaign together to advocate for the “analog life!”

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