“The purpose of the economic system is to serve society and the purpose of the financial system is to serve the economic system in creating physical capital that supports that aim. Our predicament today, as Robert Johnson, former chief economist of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee eloquently puts it, is that, “The servant’s servant has become the master’s master.’ If we are to ever reverse this situation, we will need both inspiration and pragmatism. Transforming Wall Street is the best starter course I have yet seen.”
— Professor Peter Senge
MIT, Sloan School of Management, SoL, The Academy for Systemic Change, and Author of The Fifth Discipline
Bravo!
“Bravo! Finally a book on conscious capitalism from the streets of Wall Street.”
— Chip Conley
Bestselling Author and Hospitality Entrepreneur
“Kim’s book shows how individual financiers can succeed….through conscious capitalism. And to prove her point, she interviews the biggest names on Wall Street who have done exactly that.”
— John Mackey
Co-Founder & Co-Chief Executive Officer, Whole Foods
Brilliant Answers
“In her new book, Kim Ann Curtin delivers brilliant answers to the capitalist bashers and wolves of Wall Street alike.”
— Oswald Grubel
Former Group CEO of UBS AG
This Single Book
“Our entire planetary future depends upon bringing more consciousness to finance. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this single book might just get us there. Kim Ann Curtin offers us new visions and voices, principles and practices, that all come together and speak truth to money with a cry straight from the heart.”
— Raphael Cushnir
Author of The One Thing Holding You Back and Surfing Your Inner Sea
Reveals The Truth
“Kim Ann Curtin’s book reveals the truth that many business leaders already know in their hearts: business can be, and should be, a force for good.”
— Professor Lynn Stout
Distinguished Professor of Corporate and Business Law, Jack G. Clarke Business Law Institute, Cornell Law School
Author of The Shareholder Value Myth: How Putting Shareholders First Harms Investors, Corporations, and the Public
Rosetta Stone for Financial Leaders
“This extraordinary book is a Rosetta Stone for financial leaders and anyone who wishes to transform his or her relationship with money. Kim Ann Curtin brilliantly bridges the world of investment with the journey of awakening. She demonstrates that it is possible to claim inner reward amidst our quest to succeed in the marketplace. If every financier read this book and applied its principles, the world would be a far happier and more prosperous place.”
— Alan Cohen
Author of The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
An enlightening and thrilling experience
“This book is a superbly textured insight into the world of Wall Street. By skillfully mixing the perspectives of fifty ‘participants’ Kim Ann Curtin addresses one of the critical questions of today — can one harmonize a spiritual sensitivity with the realities of working in the financial community? The book is useful on many levels — from entry level to the board room. There is no jargon; there is no rote. Reading this book is an enlightening and thrilling experience. Buy it and Read it.”
— Robert Monks
Shareholder Activist and Author of The New Global Investors: How Shareowners can Unlock Sustainable Prosperity Worldwide
Makes one believe in The American Dream again
“In reexamining the philosophical origins of capitalism, and putting a spotlight on those who have practiced it true to its evidently ‘conscious’ core, Kim Ann Curtin makes one believe in the American Dream again. Once you read this book, you’ll never look at what you do and how in quite the same way.”
— Tahl Raz
Business Journalist and Author of Never Eat Alone
In this well-researched and clearly-written book, Kim Ann Curtin interviews people of success, respect, and integrity about their ideas on the current state Wall Street. The reader is shown what Wall Street could and ought to be.
— Victor Niederhoffer
Capitalists can indeed live consciously
“Wall Street’s backbone is trust. And there is no osteoporosis of trust, it crumbles all at once. Transforming Wall Street: A Conscious Path for a New Future provides us with financiers who honor and understand this trust, proving that capitalists can indeed live consciously.”
— His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Probes Fifty Leading Wall Street Figures
“There is no conflict between making money and morality. As Barry Ritholtz, who is quoted here, succinctly states, ‘It comes back to integrity. If you have integrity, it doesn’t matter what you do for a living.’ The evils often attributed to capitalism almost invariably come from other sources, such as crony capitalism, which is the exact opposite. Self-interest is not the same as selfishness. Such narrow thinking would fail to delineate between the motivated entrepreneur and the armed robber; the former enhances society’s wealth through self-interest, while the latter destroys it through selfishness. The idea that the corporation’s job is to maximize shareholder value is a myth that neither serves the interests of society, the corporation, or ironically, even shareholders (beyond the short-term). These are just a sampling of the ideas explored in Transforming Wall Street, a book that probes fifty leading Wall Street figures for their insights on more important questions than how to make money in the markets.”
— Jack Schwager
Author of Market Wizards
More to Adam Smith than greed
“Kim Ann Curtin does a real service by showing people that there is more to Adam Smith than greed and reminding us of what he really believed.”
— Dr. Craig Smith
School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Glasgow
Showcasing Possibilities
“Kim Ann Curtin elevates and deepens the debate over necessary reform of Wall Street and today’s unstable global casino finance. Deeply researching Adam Smith’s overlooked The Theory of Moral Sentiments provides context for this research into the deeper motivations and worldviews of the “Wall Street 50” in finance whom Curtin interviews. Beyond blaming and shaming, she identifies positive trends, thus showcasing possibilities for reforming markets, metrics, and models for more sustainable financing of our common human future.”
— Hazel Henderson
Author of Mapping the Global Transition to the Solar Age and Ethical Markets: Growing the Green Economy
President of Ethical Markets Media (USA & Brazil) Certified B Corporation
We need more good people on Wall Street
“There are a lot of good people on Wall Street, but the most notorious ones are known to the public for the wrong reasons. Every day, conscious capitalism faces resistance on Wall Street. We need more good people on Wall Street. This book sheds light on the good actors and provides readers with a toolkit to follow in their footsteps.”
— Brad Katsuyama
President & CEO IEX Group, Inc.
The True Essence of Capitalism
“In Transforming Wall Street, Kim Ann Curtin strips away layers of justifications and misconceptions to provide us with the true essence of capitalism and how it can be consciously used to maximize human potential. She deftly weaves together historic turning points and contemporary thought leaders to create a compelling argument that by using our economic systems more deliberately, we will be far more satisfied with the outcomes.”
— Amy Domini
Founder of Domini Social Investments
Author of Socially Responsible Investing: Making a Difference and Making Money
50 Leading Wall Street Financiers, Academics and Futurists
“Kim Ann Curtin’s experience coaching “conscious capitalism” comes through as she captures the practices of 50 leading Wall Street financiers, academics and futurists that allow Wall Street to serve not greed but the greater good.”
— Keith Ferrazzi
Author of the #1 NY Times Bestseller Never Eat Alone and Who’s Got Your Back
Well Worth Reading
“Through her interviews, Curtin defines what true capitalism can be and should be. She exposes the situations that have hindered capitalism, such as government interference in free markets, from fulfilling its potential for long-term prosperity for everyone. Well worth reading.”
— John A. Allison
President and CEO of the Cato Institute
Retired Chairman and CEO of BB&T
Capitalism’s Past, Present and Future
“In ‘Transforming Wall Street’ Kim Ann Curtin’s rigorous research into modern day capitalism has managed to unearth some of its finest stalwarts, and in so doing, gets to the essence of what makes this economic system work and wherein lies its strengths and vulnerabilities. This is masterful writing, laced with honest and compelling arguments. A recommended read for all who would seek to learn more about capitalism’s past, present and future.”
— Don Seymour
Founder of DMS Offshore Investment Services, Ltd
Interesting and innovative ideas about human nature
“Kim Ann Curtin’s book Transforming Wall Street, is full of interesting and innovative ideas about human nature, our interests in and motivations regarding money, and how we can apply capitalism in ways that will make our economy, society, and personal lives more satisfying. It is well worth reading.”
— John C. Whitehead [In Memorium]
Former Co-Chairman & Partner of Goldman Sachs
Former US Deputy Secretary of State
Former Director of the NYSE
Forcibly Inspiring!
“FORCIBLY INSPIRING! Kim Ann Curtin, brilliantly restores our faith in the fact that there is heroism in capitalism. She showcases a select group of practitioners who embrace the philosophy that best business practices are achieved when lives are bettered and communities are strengthened ahead of profits. In Transforming Wall Street: A Conscious Path for a New Future, Curtin introduces to us to some leaders who define this new paradigm — those conscious visionaries who have changed the world not just by making money and driving shareholder returns BUT by leaving people better than they found them.”
— Cynthia D. DiBartolo
Esq. Chief Executive Officer of Tigress Financial Partners LLC
Today’s most accomplished thinkers and players
“Kim Ann Curtin has bravely faced facts in the much-maligned recent history of Wall Street and woven together interviews from some of today’s most accomplished thinkers and players to create a brocade of strategies for conscious leadership that will, if implemented, make our financial power centers both successful and responsible again.”
— Marshall Goldsmith
Author of the New York Times and Global Bestseller What Got You Here Won’t Get You There
Everyone’s financial benefit
“It’s only through practicing mindfulness with the intention of everyone’s financial benefit that you can call yourself a true fiduciary. Kim’s book reflects her inner wisdom in applying this process to our collective benefit.”
— Michael Martin
Author of The Inner Voice of Trading
A rousing take on the future of Wall Street’s contribution
“Room to Read’s early development thrived thanks in large part to the conscious capitalism of Wall Street that Kim Ann Curtin eloquently discusses. Curtin’s analysis of the Wall Street 50 is a fantastic account of how the banking and hedge fund communities can—and are—making a tremendous impact on social causes. Room to Read’s global literacy and girls’ education efforts have impacted over 8 million children in Asia and Africa due in large part to philanthropic leadership and support from the finance community. Transforming Wall Street is a rousing take on the future of Wall Street’s contribution not only to Main Street but also to communities in Asia and Africa.”
— John Wood
Founder of Room to Read
Author of Leaving Microsoft to Change the World
The Final Frontier
“When it comes to spreading Conscious Capitalism, Wall Street and the financial sector are the final frontier, and to many, the greatest obstacle. Kim Ann Curtin’s book is a wonderfully positive and inclusive contribution to the dialogue of how the financial sector can reconnect with its invaluable and inherent higher purpose, which is to enable the spread of human and planetary flourishing by shepherding societal resources and directing them towards the most impactful areas. The breadth of thinking and depth of wisdom in this book are quite breathtaking. Let us all hope that it falls on receptive ears in the canyons of Wall Street and in financial capitals around the world.”
— Raj Sisodia
FW Olin Distinguished Professor of Global Business
Whole Foods Market Research Scholar in Conscious Capitalism, Babson College
Co-founder & Co-Chairman, Conscious Capitalism Inc.
Players that look beyond their own enrichment
“Just like everything else in life, there are always two sides of every story. Curtin takes that approach to Finance and Capitalism. Transforming Wall Street: A Conscious Path for a New Future shows the good that can come from those players that look beyond their own enrichment to the betterment of our overall society.”
— George G. Schwartz
Chief Operating Officer of Boston Private Bank & Trust Company