Seventh Generation Hires New CEO, Chuck Maniscalco

from 7Gen Blog, by Chuck Maniscalo

June 16, 2009

It's been two weeks now that I've been part of the Seventh Generation community, and I think we're off to a great start together. I've been able to integrate myself within the leadership of the organization, and am beginning to see clearly where I can really make a difference so that this great, mission-driven company can continue to build on its amazing successes in showing the world that there is a better way to run a business responsibly.

Which brings me to this note. I am happy to report that after moving halfway across the country to Burlington, VT, where I didn't know anyone, I have been accepted with open arms by the company's employees, who have a real eagerness to see how, as CEO, I can help them build on Seventh Generation's legacy. But from most everyone else -- reporters, bloggers, Seventh Generation consumers, and our Nation members -- I'm hearing a version of, "Jeffrey hired WHO? You brought in a big-company guy to take the reins of Seventh Generation? This new CEO better be careful not to ruin the wonderful things Seventh Generation is doing."

While it's not the welcome I was expecting, I completely understand the reaction. So many people in the world of large corporations have acted in ways to invite cynicism and distrust and I recognize that it's natural to lump someone who worked in this environment in with all of this. But before you make any decisions about me, I'd like you to understand WHY I came to Seventh Generation at this point in my life. And I'd invite you to get to know me better, so that your opinions about me are based on the genuine person I am, and not on a big-company label.

When I retired from PepsiCo last summer, I made it clear to everyone that I had no aspirations to continue to be a CEO. In fact, I started up a new company dedicated to a philosophy of strength-based leadership: That there was unharnessed power in organizations and teams, which could be tapped into by allowing (and encouraging) people to develop into their own, authentic, and unique leaders: for people to take their strengths and turn them into towering strengths instead of constantly fighting to get better on things that they'll never be good at. And I was feeling pure joy in every moment I spent working with people to do just that (see www.manifestleadership.com). But I left the door slightly ajar about CEO roles, but with a major condition that it be for a mission-driven company. Along comes the Seventh Generation opportunity, and suddenly, I'm re-considering my future. Two things made it clear to me that this was THE right thing to do. First, I went to the website, and devoured virtually everything on it, notably many of Jeffrey's blog posts, and the extensive corporate responsibility report. I knew right then that this was a company with a mission that aligned with who I was: Authentic, transparent, and out to give back to our world.

Then I met Jeffrey Hollender for an initial interview. It lasted about 4 hours, and we connected on every dimension possible. It took a while after that to finalize everything, delayed for a while by the sudden illness and then passing of my lovely and loving mother. But I knew that afternoon as I prepared to fly back to Chicago that Seventh Generation and I were made for each other. Nothing short of that would have led my wife and I to pick up and leave our Chicago community which we love and have lived in for 29 years. Nothing short of that would have convinced us to leave a house we've lovingly nurtured so that it was our own little nest that fit our lives perfectly. Nothing short of that could have possibly led me to give up Manifest Leadership, my joy.

So, to shorten a long story ever so slightly, I'm here BECAUSE of the mission of Seventh Generation. And though I will be focused on growth, it will be growth in SERVICE of this mission, not in spite of it. As we grow, we can reach out to more customers and consumers, and do more good in our communities. As we grow, we can show other companies that the higher-standard of Seventh Generation can be a new model for success. And, I know we can grow while being true to and building on the inspiration of "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." Of course, you won't be completely convinced until you see what we actually do as a company, but I for one am not at all worried, and I promise that soon you won't be, either.

The second part of my message to you today is to ask that you not judge me based on a label; to not judge me on where I worked in my past versus who I am. I suspect that you would agree for yourselves that your identity is not wholly wrapped up in one part of your life; your identity is about the WHOLE you. I'd like to think that I am more than just a 'big company guy.' My background is unconventional for a business person, and my identity is the result of a lifetime of experiences, successes, and failures at work and outside of work. I strive for Authenticity in everything I do; I strive to understand and then build on my unique strengths; I strive to make a difference in the world in which I live; and I am at a point in my life of wanting, almost desperately, to give back. If you want to understand me better, my story is at www.chuckmaniscalco.com. You don't need to read it all, but just a quick browse will hopefully show you that I am more than just a label.

So, please understand that I am here to serve the vision and mission that Jeffrey has built and continues to nurture. Please give me a chance to integrate myself into this wonderful community and join all of you in being a force for good in our society. It's what I want most in my life, and I'd love to do it in concert with all of the people like you who care so deeply about true responsibility.

Chuck Maniscalco

P.S. To watch a video I made of my first days at Seventh Generation, click here

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