Giving Pledge Assignment

MBA 715

Giving Pledge Assignment

Arthur Blank

Arthur Blank is a self-made billionaire who co-founded Home Depot in 1978 following his termination from a home improvement store. His estimated net worth as of 2016 is $3.2 billion. Blank stepped back from Home Depot in 2001 so he could devote more time to his philanthropic causes. He subsequently wound up purchasing the Atlanta Falcons NFL franchise in 2002 for $545 million. Their estimated net worth as of today is $2.1 billion (Forbes, 2017).

Arthur made a promise to give to Giving Pledge in 2012. Being a successful businessman, he felt compelled to give back to the communities that had and continue to be so good to him. He felt it was his position as someone who has achieved success to give back and devote his time and energy to those less fortunate. In 2011, Blank and his family established The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and since that time have given over $250 million to various charitable organizations ranging from education to the arts. While Blank made his original fortune from his role in creating Home Depot, he is currently owner of a football team (Falcons), a soccer team (Atlanta United FC, and an owner of PGA Tour Superstores, a specialty golf retailer. Even at his current age of 70, Blank maintains a vast array of responsibilities but makes his philanthropic duties primary.

To achieve what Blank has achieved and to lead as many endeavors as he has had, he had to exhibit leadership characteristics that made him respected, revered and well regarded. In a speech given to Citadel University students in 2005, Blank outlined six core principles of leadership that he felt were important to the success he has achieved (Citadel, 2017). They are as follows:

• Put the people you serve first
• Listening is a cornerstone of success
• Good ideas are anywhere
• Lead by example
• Giving back is not important, but essential
• Creating value depends on values

From the achievements of Arthur Blank, it is evident that he has servant leadership tendencies, in that his focus is the growth and well-being of the community. As a staple of the Atlanta community, dating back to Home Depot making their headquarters in Georgia and his ties to the Atlanta sports scene, Blank has exhibited care for the community to which he belongs.  Blank, in his endeavors, also has shown tendencies of individualized consideration and intellectual stimulation. He has always shown a level of concern and care for who works for him and believes in a level of communication. As owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Blank cares for the community. When he purchased the team in 2002, he had reached out to season ticket holders to see what made them happy and unhappy and used that input to make the Falcons experience that much more meaningful. In addition, as owner of a NFL franchise, communication with the football people, the operations people and management in between is of utmost importance. There is no way a winning product can be produced on the football team if all parties are not in lockstep with one another.