From Rock Bottom to the Boardroom: How four former offenders turned their lives – and companies – around

We often hear about CEOs juggling work and personal life – marriage, kids, perhaps a bereavement. But what about the ones with darker pasts? The ones who’ve done time, battled addiction or made choices that pushed them to the fringes of society?

Our new study dives into the lives of four such CEOs. Each of them has a criminal or addiction history, each turned their life around and each now leads a successful business. Their stories are inspiring, challenging what we think we know about leadership.

Trust, even in the shadows

You might not expect people with criminal pasts to talk about trust and honesty, but that’s exactly what these CEOs do. In fact, they say trust is essential – even in criminal operations. When your life may be at stake, knowing who you can rely on becomes second nature.

That instinct didn’t disappear during their lawful ventures, rather it became a cornerstone of how they lead. They build deep relationships, value loyalty and know how to read people. It’s not what you’d expect – but maybe it should be.

Grit, gratitude and a bit of guilt

These leaders didn’t just survive tough times, they grew from them. Their experiences gave them determination, motivation, resilience and an ability to handle risk and pressure most of us can’t imagine. But there’s more to it than that.

They also carry a deep sense of gratitude – for second chances, for the people who helped them and, sometimes, even for divine intervention. Alongside that gratitude is something akin to survivor’s guilt. Why them? Why not the others?

That mix of emotions fuels a powerful sense of purpose. They lead with empathy and include people others might overlook. They create workplaces where second chances aren’t just possible, they’re part of the culture.

Leading with purpose

These CEOs lead by example. Many of them hire people with similar pasts. They support causes that tackle inequality. They speak out, mentor and use their stories to inspire others, steering them away from making the same mistakes.

Their leadership isn’t just about profit, it’s about making a difference.

A hidden talent pool

Let this sink in: there are millions of people out there – 27 million in the US alone – who are ready to work but often ignored because of their past. That includes people who’ve been in prison. Similar proportions are found in the UK and Germany.

In a world still recovering from the ‘great resignation’ during the Covid pandemic, this is a talent pool we can’t afford to ignore. These stories show that ex-offenders can be exceptional leaders. Our study is a call to arms to organisations, both large and small, to lead the way towards rehabilitative justice.

What’s next?

Our study opens up interesting research avenues. How about the interactions between gratitude, survivor guilt and purpose in the manifestations of post-traumatic growth in ex-offenders and ex-addicts, or the possible mediating effect of survivor guilt on the relationship between gratitude and purposeful inclusivity? What about women with similar stories? Or people from other parts of the world? How about those from other unconventional backgrounds?

All of us have made mistakes. What would you do with a second chance?

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