Revisiting CEOs Who Fail Upward episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 17, 2025 · 50 MIN

Revisiting CEOs Who Fail Upward

from We Fixed It. You're Welcome. · host We Fixed It, You're Welcome

As we prepare to launch Season 2, we are revisiting some of our most talked about episodes from the first season, and in this episode we look at CEOs who fail miserably yet fail upward, such as high-profile cases like Adam Neumann of WeWork, Billy McFarland of Fyre Festival, and Travis Kalanick of Uber. The panel discusses the systemic issues that allow these leaders to continue ascending despite public failures, delving into the role of charisma, cultural intelligence, and the importance of surrounding oneself with expert teams. They debate the fine line between visionary leadership and unchecked ego, and consider the accountability of boards and investors. The conversation touches on the American obsession with singular genius entrepreneurs and the cultural factors that contribute to this trend. Ultimately, the hosts propose a checklist of red flags to help identify and mitigate risks associated with charismatic but potentially problematic leaders. __________________ Disclaimer: A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners. Music by Milo W. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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