Five people in our stories this year

Why read this story?

Editor's note: Nothing demonstrates a business’s true character better than the people who run it. All those earnings numbers peppered across news feeds, layoffs dominating headlines, buyouts splashed across the front pages of newspapers are, really, an outcome—both intentional and unintended—of the decisions made by a handful of people in bustling corporate offices. Trial-and-error, patience, perseverance, risk-taking and, at times, dumb stunts and whimsical management styles—the list of what works and what doesn’t is long. But what exactly drives these decision makers? We found out through our stories. With exactly five days to go before we bid adieu to this year, we’ve rounded up five longreads in which our reporters turned their attention to people who matter a great deal in the world of business, featuring a fascinating variety. A mix of in-depth reportage and interviews from our Business and Internet teams, this selection from our grab bag of stories makes an ideal holiday read, perfect to spend the closing days of 2021 in this liminal week. The Harsh Mariwala way of doing business In a world where toxic workplaces and sneaky …