Distinguished Speakers Series: Linda Rendle, Clorox CEO: Be Kind, Not Nice

Clorox CEO and chairperson, Linda Rendle spoke with Dean Bill Boulding about the mentors who helped her see herself as a business leader, getting more women into top corporate leadership positions, and the difference between being kind and being nice.

The talk was held on February 6, 2024, as part of the school’s Distinguished Speakers Series.

#WomenLeadership #Mentorship #CSuite

More information about the series can be found at https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/dss

00:00 Intro
00:51 Did you imagine being CEO in a state of perpetual crisis?
02:14 What can we do to accelerate the ability of women to rise into the CEO position?
07:18 How did you keep everyone moving forward in a supply chain during the COVID pandemic?
12:03 How do you deal with product demand in new phase of COVID?
15:05 Distinction between "nice" and "kind."
15:52 Risk and uncertainty: how do you respond to cyberattacks?
19:34 Technology risk: Are you nervous about giving more control to generative AI?
20:59 Political risk: How do you deal with the threat of polarization in society?
24:42 Financial returns: valuing stockholder returns and ESG concerns.
29:56 Are CEO's who duck the issues of DEI and ESG just being "nice" versus "kind?"
31:42 What advice would you give to your younger self?
34:46 How did you develop a positive mindset to accept and learn from failure?
40:43 What is the next big sustainability challenge for Clorox?
42:14 How do you navigate crisis situations, from a global leader level and lower levels abroad?
45:10 How do you decide who you want to be on your team?
48:51 What courage is needed to go through the process of being considered and selected as CEO?
51:18 How do you manage and measure culture change at your company?
53:26 If I got hired at Clorox right now, and got a hiring bonus, why should I invest that money in Clorox stock for the next 3 years?