ALLTO

Fortunes and Fiascos
2026-01-05 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-01-19 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Tartu College – G1, 310 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1W4, Canada
New this year!
This workshop explores what makes companies tick. How should success be defined? Are there behaviours, conditions or opportunities that tend to generate winners? Focus will be placed on specific corporations and leaders.
Corporations: Corporations today control budgets larger than the GDP of many countries. Some relative newcomers have succeeded masterfully, like Microsoft and Apple, and others have exhibited enduring success, for example, Nestle and Shell. Some have been dismal failures, e.g. Napster, Kodak and Nortel. Still others are hard to judge, like Blackberry. Why do some succeed while others flop? What makes the difference?
Business events have implications far beyond the Boardroom – AI development, the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the 1929 market crash. Some businesses are all about new tech and science, like Nvidia and Tesla, and this raises questions about longer term success or failure. Business issues impact both politics and the broader economy.
Leaders: What role do leaders play in their company’s success, the movers and shakers who guide these corporations? Many business leaders seem to have stepped out of a Marvel action movie – Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Bernie Madoff, Albert “Chainsaw” Dunlap, Richard Fuld and many more. Some are “rock stars;” others, villains or rogues.
The workshop will focus on two topics each session. Each participant will develop a 15-minute talk designed to stimulate discussion. Background resource materials will be suggested so that participants come to the session informed. There are many critical studies, biographies, self-serving autobiographies and films as resource materials.
Facilitators
Patti Stoll is an engaged and curious member of the Academy for seven years and has co-facilitated several workshops. Before retiring, Patti worked as a consultant for a global systems firm, ran her own business, and held teaching and leadership roles in higher education. In retirement she continues her training consultancy and mentoring female university students.
Linda Reeser worked in the advertising industry for more than 20 years. She managed the advertising for such well-known companies as Coca-Cola, American Express and Procter & Gamble. She had a “retirement” job teaching Marketing at York University’s Schulich School of Business. Linda has been a member of the Academy for five years. Topics and Suggested ResourcesFocus
This workshop takes a deep dive into the factors that help create powerful, polarizing businesses and business icons.
In the case of business leaders, the person’s life story provides context for our focus: understanding the decisions they made, the industries they shaped (or shattered) and the ethical crossroads they navigated.
In looking at individual companies, the focus is on understanding the corporate culture and the strategic business decisions that resulted in success or failure.
With respect to the events category, the challenge is to move beyond the retelling of the event to explore the root cause(s) and the broad implications of the event.
Note: The following are some suggested topics and references. They are suggestions only: once registration is complete, participants are free to choose from this list or to suggest a topic in consultation with the facilitators.
Disrupters, Polarizers, and Devils
1. Mark Zuckerberg
Description: A transformative innovator who redefined social connectivity through Facebook but faces criticism for privacy violations, misinformation, and monopolistic practices.
Reference: “The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World” by David Kirkpatrick.
Movie/Documentary: The Social Network (2010).
2. Albert “Chainsaw” Dunlap
Description: A notorious corporate downsizer whose aggressive cost-cutting and accounting manipulations led to short-term profits and long-term destruction.
Reference: “Chainsaw: The Notorious Career of Albert Dunlap in the Era of Profit-at-Any-Price” by John A. Byrne.
Movie/Documentary: The Corporation (2003) (documentary).
3. Elon Musk
Description: A visionary entrepreneur pushing boundaries in electric vehicles, space exploration, and AI, yet often criticized for erratic leadership and controversial social media behavior.
Reference: “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future” by Ashlee Vance.
Movie/Documentary: Return to Space (2022) (Netflix documentary).
4. Bernie Madoff
Description: The mastermind behind history’s largest Ponzi scheme, defrauding thousands of investors of billions of dollars over decades.
Reference: “The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust” by Diana B. Henriques.
Movie/Documentary: The Wizard of Lies (2017) (HBO film).
5. Michael Dell
Description: A tech pioneer who revolutionized the personal computer industry through direct-to-consumer sales and innovative supply chain management.
Reference: “Direct from Dell: Strategies That Revolutionized an Industry” by Michael Dell and Catherine Fredman.
Movie/Documentary: Something Ventured (2011) (documentary featuring tech entrepreneurs).
6. Henry Ford
Description: The father of mass production and a champion of industrial efficiency but also criticized for anti-Semitic views and monopolistic tendencies.
Reference: “Henry Ford: My Life and Work” by Henry Ford and Samuel Crowther.
Movie/Documentary: American Experience: Henry Ford (2013) (PBS documentary).
7. Richard Fuld
Description: The “Gorilla of Wall Street,” whose leadership of Lehman Brothers epitomized the hubris and risk-taking that fueled the 2008 financial crisis.
Reference: “A Colossal Failure of Common Sense: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Lehman Brothers” by Lawrence G. McDonald and Patrick Robinson.
Movie/Documentary: Too Big to Fail (2011) (HBO film).
8. Martha Stewart
Description: The “Icon of all things Domestic,” she built an empire of advice, also spending some time in jail.
Reference: “Martha Inc: The Incredible Story of Martha Stewart. Omnimedia by Christopher Byron.
Movie/Documentary: Martha Inc: The Story of Martha Stewart (2003), starring Cybill Shepherd. Or Martha (2004) documentary on Netflix.
Innovate… or Become a Dinosaur
9. Apple
Description: A trailblazing technology company renowned for its innovative products like the iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch, which have revolutionized personal computing, communication, and entertainment.
Reference: Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli.
Film: Steve Jobs (2015) – A biographical drama focusing on key moments in Steve Jobs’ career.
10. Kodak
Description: Once a dominant force in photography, Kodak is a cautionary tale of failing to adapt to the digital revolution despite inventing the first digital camera.
Reference: The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton M. Christensen.
Film: The Last Kodak Moment (2012) – A BBC documentary exploring the company’s downfall.
11. Amazon
Description: A pioneering e-commerce and technology company that revolutionized online retail, cloud computing, and logistics, becoming one of the world’s most influential corporations.
Reference: Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire by Brad Stone.
Film: Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos (2020) – A PBS Frontline documentary examining Amazon’s rise and controversies.
12. Napster
Description: The groundbreaking peer-to-peer file-sharing service that disrupted the music industry in the early 2000s, leading to debates over digital rights and copyright laws.
Reference: Downloaded (2013) (documentary film directed by Alex Winter).
Film: Downloaded (2013) – A documentary focusing on Napster’s creation and impact.
13. Shell
Description: A global energy giant at the center of the oil and gas industry, often criticized for environmental impacts but increasingly focusing on renewable energy initiatives.
Reference: Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil by Peter Maass.
Film: The Spiders Web: Shell’s Strange Days in Nigeria (1998) – A documentary addressing Shell’s controversial environmental and human rights record in Nigeria.
All in the Family
14. Walmart
Description: The world’s largest retailer, known for its aggressive pricing, global reach, and influence on supply chains, but also criticized for labor practices and its impact on small businesses.
Reference: The Walmart Effect: How the World’s Most Powerful Company Really Works by Charles Fishman.
Film/Documentary: Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price (2005) – A documentary exploring Walmart’s corporate practices and their effects on communities.
15. Samsung
Description: A global technology conglomerate that has driven innovation in electronics, semiconductors, and mobile phones, while grappling with allegations of corruption and labor violations.
Reference: Samsung Rising: The Inside Story of the South Korean Giant That Set Out to Beat Apple and Conquer Tech by Geoffrey Cain.
Film/Documentary: Inside Samsung: The Power of Innovation (2017) – A documentary on the rise of Samsung and its dominance in global markets.
16. McCain
Description: A multinational frozen food company, best known for its French fries, that has grown into a major player in the global food industry through innovation and expansion.
Reference: McCain Foods: A History of the Company by Bill McDonald.
Film/Documentary: No major documentary, but Food, Inc. (2008) explores the broader industrial food system, which includes McCain.
17. Thomson
Description: A multinational media and information company, known for its leadership in financial data services through its Reuters division, and its role in media, education, and healthcare.
Reference: The Financial Times: The Inside Story of the Rise of Thomson Reuters by T. Boyden.
Film/Documentary: No specific film, but Inside Job (2010) looks at the financial industry, of which Thomson Reuters is a key part.
18. Koch Brothers
Description: The Koch family and its conglomerate, Koch Industries, have amassed significant political and economic influence through vast holdings in energy, chemicals, and manufacturing.
Reference: Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer.
Film/Documentary: Koch Brothers Exposed (2012) – A documentary that explores the Koch brothers’ political and business influence.
19. Tata Group
Description: An Indian multinational conglomerate with diverse interests in steel, automotive, IT, and consumer goods, recognized for its philanthropic initiatives and business leadership.
Reference: The Tata Group: From Torchbearers to Trailblazers by Sumantra Ghoshal.
Film/Documentary: The Rise of the Tatas (2017) – A documentary about the Tata Group’s growth and legacy in India and worldwide.
Managing the Brand
20. LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy)
Description: A global leader in luxury goods, LVMH strategically manages its prestigious portfolio of brands by combining heritage, craftsmanship, and modern marketing to maintain exclusivity and allure.
Reference: Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas.
Film/Documentary: The Secret World of Haute Couture (2007) – A documentary that explores the world of high fashion, including LVMH’s influence in the luxury goods industry.
21. Nestlé
Description: As the world’s largest food and beverage company, Nestlé expertly manages its brand by focusing on quality, innovation, and sustainability while navigating challenges around health, ethics, and environmental impact.
Reference: The Nestlé Story: How the Swiss Giant Became the World’s Largest Food Company by David J. Calvillo.
Film/Documentary: Food, Inc. (2008) – A documentary that examines the power and influence of major food companies, including Nestlé, in shaping the global food system.
22. Coca-Cola
Description: Coca-Cola has successfully maintained its brand dominance through powerful marketing strategies, including the creation of a strong global identity, while adapting to trends like healthier alternatives and sustainability.
Reference: The Coke Machine: The Dirty Truth Behind the World’s Favorite Soft Drink by Michael Blanding.
Film/Documentary: The Coca-Cola Case (2009) – A documentary that explores Coca-Cola’s legal battles and global marketing strategies.
Disruptive Events
23.1929 Stock Market Crash
Description: The 1929 Stock Market Crash marked the beginning of the Great Depression, a disruptive economic event that triggered global financial instability, widespread unemployment, and a fundamental shift in economic policies.
Reference: The Great Crash 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith.
Film/Documentary: The Crash of 1929 (2009) – A PBS documentary examining the causes and consequences of the stock market crash.
24.Subprime Mortgage Crisis (2007-2008)
Description: The Subprime Mortgage Crisis was a disruptive financial event where risky lending practices in the housing market led to the collapse of major financial institutions, triggering the global financial crisis and a reevaluation of regulatory practices.
Reference: The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis.
Film/Documentary: Inside Job (2010) – An Oscar-winning documentary that investigates the causes of the 2008 financial crisis, including the role of the subprime mortgage market.
New Media
25. Facebook (Meta)
Description: Facebook revolutionized social communication, connecting billions of people worldwide, but its impact on society has been mixed, raising concerns about privacy, mental health, misinformation, and its role in shaping public opinion.
Reference: The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World by David Kirkpatrick.
Film/Documentary: The Social Dilemma (2020) – A Netflix documentary examining the dangerous human impact of social networking, with a focus on Facebook’s role in society.
26. TikTok
Description: TikTok has rapidly transformed global social media culture by making short-form video content viral, influencing trends, politics, and marketing, but it has also raised concerns about privacy, data security, and its influence on youth.
Reference: TikTok Boom: China’s Challenge to Hollywood by Chris Stokel-Walker.
Film/Documentary: The Social Dilemma (2020) – While not solely focused on TikTok, it examines the broader social media landscape, touching on TikTok’s societal effects.
27. X (formerly Twitter)
Description: X (formerly Twitter) has reshaped how news is disseminated, enabling real-time communication and social movements, but also contributing to the spread of misinformation, online harassment, and political polarization.
Reference: Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest by Zeynep Tufekci.
Film/Documentary: The Social Network (2010) – While primarily focused on Facebook, this film highlights the broader impact of social media, including the role of Twitter in shaping online discourse.
InformationTwo Terms | Week 1Mondays | Bi-Weekly10:00am – 12:00pmIn-person Become a member Already a member? Click here to login. Register
