BOA R D profile
KIP TINDELL
Kip Tindell is the epitome of an out- of-the-box
thinker. This characteristic has been evident both
when it came to launching the first-ever store devoted
solely to storage and organization products (The
Container Store), but also in his philosophy in putting employees first.
“Herb Kelleher, founder and former CEO of
Southwest Airlines, taught me if you treat your
employees with love, they’ll do the same,” said Kip.
“I’ve always admired and respected this viewpoint.
It’s a big deal to be someone’s employer, and it’s a
privilege I don’t take lightly.”
The Container Store first opened its doors in Dallas
in 1978. Kip is chairman and CEO and has reinforced
his reputation as a trailblazing retailer since the beginning. With a focus on the company’s values-based
Foundation Principles and the tenets of Conscious
Capitalism, Kip has successfully built a business where
everyone associated with it can thrive – its employees,
customers, vendors, communities and shareholders.
After more than 35 years, The Container Store continues to be lauded for its unique corporate culture
that has landed it on Fortune magazine’s list of “100
Best Companies to Work For” 15 years in a row. Kip
has shared his insight and experience from his career
in a new book, Uncontainable: How Passion,
Commitment, and Conscious Capitalism Built a
Business Where Everyone Thrives.
How was the experience of writing your first
book?
Writing a book is strange. It’s a personal thing that
you pour so much of yourself into and now you have
people you love and admire that have read it. Herb
Kelleher read it and said some really nice things
about it, which was really amazing. It’s been an
incredibly exciting process, and I’m thrilled with all
the great reviews it’s received.
To what do you attribute your success?
My wife, Sharon, and I both believe in living a
purpose-driven life – when you are aware of the
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impact you have on others around you and want to
do what you can to help them to thr