Biography

Jim Collins, born in Boulder, Colorado, developed as an academic over seven years at Stanford University before leaving to set up a privately-funded management laboratory in his home town. He works with a small team of researchers who advise major businesses. 

Built to Last (1997), his book with Jerry J. Porras, launched him into the group of younger management thinkers who need to be listened to.

Although his books are written in a clear, easy-to-understand style, they are based upon intensive team research over a five-year time span. What the Built to Last team did was to analyse the results of the S& P 500 and set a criterion to return 300 per cent over the S&P for 15 years. Of the S&P list, only 11 companies met the criterion, and none were household names.

The researchers also discovered that the CEOs of these companies and their teams were promoted as leaders because they were ambitious not about themselves and their careers but about the overall success of the company. 

Read More