“Do I regret selling to Amazon? We sold to Amazon now, seven years ago. Do you regret it? The honest answer is, I regret that circumstances made that the best alternative for Whole Foods.” – John Mackey
In this episode of The Jonathan Keyser Podcast, John Mackey, co-founder and former CEO of Whole Foods, talks about his journey from writing Conscious Capitalism to Conscious Leadership to his newest release, The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism.
In conversation with Jonathan Keyser (JK), Mackey first elaborates on his management philosophy, "Conscious Capitalism," which he co-authored in a book. This philosophy centers around four principles:
- higher purpose
- stakeholder interdependence
- conscious leadership, and
- creating cultures where people can thrive
Mackey believes that businesses should pursue a purpose beyond profit and acknowledges that Conscious Capitalism is a business model aimed at enhancing traditional capitalism rather than undermining it.
Mackey then gives an overview of how he taught business leaders to operationalize the Conscious Capitalism model in his book Conscious Leadership.
To close the interview, Mackey reflects on his decision to write a book about his experience with Whole Foods, The Whole Story. Mackey shares that it serves as a final gift to the company he led for 44 years, honoring the team members who contributed to its success. The book also provided personal closure, helping him transition from his leadership role, and offered a journey of self-discovery, revealing patterns in his life and leadership.
Mackey hopes the book will inspire entrepreneurs by sharing the authentic and challenging story of building Whole Foods from its humble beginnings to a global corporation.
What’s next for John Mackey?
Mackey introduces his new venture, "Love Life," which combines healthy food, fitness, spa services, medical care, and wellness coaching to prevent chronic diseases and promote overall well-being. He envisions "Love Life" expanding globally, much like Whole Foods, and sees potential in the therapeutic use of psychedelics.
