| Patagonia |
Sustainability-focused, environmental leadership, high-quality products |
Strong, mission-oriented, family-controlled, ethical |
No major legal or ethical investigations |
Proactively commits to ethical sourcing, transparency, and environmental responsibility |
Successful, respected role model in sustainable business |
| Uber |
Rapid growth, technological disruption, scale-driven |
Mixed; regulatory and ethical controversies |
Multiple investigations: Regulatory violations, labour exploitation, unethical practices (surge pricing, data privacy breaches, harassment allegations) |
Implemented regulatory compliance measures, improved driver benefits, changed leadership (CEO change in 2017) |
Still operational but faces ongoing legal challenges and reputational damage |
| Theranos |
Aggressive innovation without proven tech |
Weak, deceptive, and unethical |
Fraud investigation: False claims about technology, misleading investors and patients |
Failed to address concerns; continued deception until exposed by whistleblowers and journalists |
Collapsed; Holmes & Balwani convicted of fraud, massive financial and reputational losses |
| Enron |
Profit-maximization through risky practices |
Corrupt, unethical, deceptive accounting |
Corporate fraud: Accounting manipulation (mark-to-market), hiding debt, misleading investors |
Attempts to hide fraud failed; bankruptcy filed, executives prosecuted |
Bankrupt; 22 executives convicted, led to Sarbanes-Oxley Act (corporate reform) |