Page 207 - The Bible On Leadership

Justice and Fairness 193

Gaudani, president of Connecticut College, realized that the college
had a responsibility to its host city. ‘‘We looked to Deuteronomy, which
tells us to ‘do justice, only justice, that you may thrive.’ ’’ Gaudani saw
that the city, and the college, could thrive only if economic justice was
served. So she revived the New London Development Corporation,
which was dedicated to attracting new investment and rebuilding the
city’s infrastructure. Within three months, she succeeded in convincing
Pfizer to build a $280 million research facility employing 2,000
people. 22
‘‘Do justice, only justice, that you may thrive.’’ That’s why Ben &
Jerry’s uses Greyston to bake its brownies and instituted a new flavor,
Rain Forest Crunch, which is a product designed around a social mis-
sion to preserve the South American rain forest. It’s why Anita Roddick
makes the campaign to save the whales an integral part of her business
plan, not just a cause to which she donates. It’s why Mark Elliott treats
his computer programmers on a par with the more visible, front-desk
employees. It’s why Jack Stack gives his employees shares in the com-
pany.
These and other leaders are taking to heart the question posed by
Edward Simon, the president of Herman Miller: ‘‘Why can’t we do
good works at work? . . . Business is the only institution that has a
chance . . . to fundamentally improve the injustice that exists in the
world.’’ 23

BIBLICAL LESSONS ON
JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS

If people perceive that they are being treated unfairly, they will
stop performing or they will act like those who are perceived
as favored.
The most credible companies are committed to justice not just