Jeff Ament, Pearl Jam Bassist, Entrepreneur

Jeff Ament spoke to students in MGMT 195 and MGMT 401.
Ament spoke on topics ranging from starting a business, to developing and managing a world-renown brand, to developing relationships to support team-based management. He discussed how the band used a “Do-It-Yourself” model to help establish and develop its business. Ament also stressed the importance for establishing a high level of trust and respect for your colleagues in order to become an effective team. He presented a frank discussion on the importance for recognizing who you are as a person, establishing a core set of values and principles to guide your business that is also consistent with who you are, and remaining true to yourself and your fans (and other stakeholders). Throughout the discussions with both classes, Ament maintained a theme that accentuated the importance for businesses, entertainment or otherwise, to maintain a positive role in promoting a sense of corporate social responsibility.