Ray C. Anderson

Ray Anderson, the CEO of Interface Global, has been publicly praised for his creative innovation and corporate sustainability efforts. Anderson, who passed away early this past August, led his carpet industry through a drastic redesign in the early 1990's. He embraced the idea of a "cradle-to-cradle" corporate strategy rather than an organizational structure that is centered around a "take-make-waste" mindset.

In a documentary that I watched of Anderson, it was easy to see why employees and consumers responded to him. Anderson stood behind and shaped Interface to become a company that was committed to environmental sustainability. It was clear through is speaking that Ray was a Transformational Leader.

While Anderson challenged and called his employees to more, it was clear throughout his career that he never asked anything of his followers that he had not already demonstrated. Recycling and being aware of conserving energy, bringing in more efficient lighting and energy saving equipment were some of the ways that Anderson implemented to create a more sustainable firm.

One of Anderson's employees was so moved by this movement that he wrote a poem about Anderson. Ray recites this poem during the majority of his broadcasts or speaking conventions. This was the poem:

Tomorrow's Child

Without a name; an unseen face

and knowing not your time nor place
Tomorrow’s Child, though yet unborn,
I met you first last Tuesday morn.

A wise friend introduced us two,

and through his sobering point of view

I saw a day that you would see;

a day for you, but not for me

Knowing you has changed my thinking,

for I never had an inkling
That perhaps the things I do

might someday, somehow, threaten you

Tomorrow’s Child, my daughter-son
I’m afraid I’ve just begun
To think of you and of your good,

Though always having known I should.

Begin I will to weigh the cost

of what I squander; what is lost
If ever I forget that you

will someday come to live here too.


The fact that Anderson inspired one of his employees so much that he wrote that poem speaks volumes of his character and ability to inspire movement in his followers. Anderson is a clear demonstration of Transformational Leadership and effective leadership in general.


Natalie Hess