Lights Out
Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric
What's it about
How does a company once worth over $600 billion simply collapse? Discover the shocking story of General Electric's downfall, a cautionary tale of corporate hubris, disastrous leadership, and a culture that valued short-term wins over long-term stability, revealing fatal flaws you might see in your own organization. You’ll learn how GE's legendary CEO Jack Welch planted the seeds of destruction with his relentless focus on impossible targets and financial engineering. Uncover the critical missteps his successor, Jeff Immelt, made that accelerated the company’s demise, providing a powerful lesson in what not to do when leading through crisis.
Meet the author
Thomas Gryta and Ted Mann are award-winning Wall Street Journal reporters who have spent years covering the stunning collapse of the American icon, General Electric. Their deep-dive reporting, built on exclusive interviews with insiders including former CEO Jeff Immelt, provided them with unparalleled access to the boardrooms and backrooms where GE's fate was sealed. This firsthand knowledge allowed them to piece together the definitive account of corporate pride and hubris, revealing the hidden story behind one of business history's greatest falls from grace.
What's it about
How does a company once worth over $600 billion simply collapse? Discover the shocking story of General Electric's downfall, a cautionary tale of corporate hubris, disastrous leadership, and a culture that valued short-term wins over long-term stability, revealing fatal flaws you might see in your own organization. You’ll learn how GE's legendary CEO Jack Welch planted the seeds of destruction with his relentless focus on impossible targets and financial engineering. Uncover the critical missteps his successor, Jeff Immelt, made that accelerated the company’s demise, providing a powerful lesson in what not to do when leading through crisis.
Meet the author
Thomas Gryta and Ted Mann are award-winning Wall Street Journal reporters who have spent years covering the stunning collapse of the American icon, General Electric. Their deep-dive reporting, built on exclusive interviews with insiders including former CEO Jeff Immelt, provided them with unparalleled access to the boardrooms and backrooms where GE's fate was sealed. This firsthand knowledge allowed them to piece together the definitive account of corporate pride and hubris, revealing the hidden story behind one of business history's greatest falls from grace.
The Script
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