ARC Speaker Series

Using Ayn Rand’s Values to Create Competitive Advantage in Business
By John Allison

Chicago, Illinois
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

[event flyer]

While John Allison was chairman and CEO of BB&T Corporation from 1989 to 2008, the company grew from $4.5 billion to $152 billion in assets to become the 10th largest financial institution headquartered in the United States. During this same period, BB&T expanded its insurance business from a small local agency to become the 6th largest insurance broker in the world. BB&T has weathered the Great Recession better than almost any bank in America.

Mr. Allison, who remains on the board of directors of BB&T, attributes the success of BB&T to the concept of Principled Leadership, based on an uncompromising commitment to fundamental values. In his talk, he will explain how Ayn Rand’s ethical system can be used practically to create a competitive advantage in any organization. He will highlight how to use a clear sense of purpose and a conscious commitment to rationality as a means of energizing your employees and avoiding fundamental business mistakes. He will also outline the necessity of having a fully integrated and non-contradictory set of principles for organizations and for individuals, and discuss typical errors in the decision process of pragmatic business leaders. Mr. Allison will show how the pursuit of personal happiness and organization success are in harmony when the individual and the organization have values based on reality and reason.

Location and Details:

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Plaza Ballroom
151 E. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601

Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Doors open: 5:45 p.m.
Talk: 6:30 p.m.
Q&A: 7:15 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is appreciated. To RSVP, please email events@aynrandcenter.org and include the number of guests in the subject line.

Benefit Dinner

September 14, 2010

The Atlas Shrugged Revolution

New York, New York
[more info]

As America faces a devastating economic crisis fundamentally caused by government policies, it is a hopeful sign for the future that increasing numbers of concerned Americans are turning to Atlas Shrugged and discovering Ayn Rand’s original morality of rational egoism and her uncompromising defense of laissez-faire capitalism.

Please join the Ayn Rand Institute for a benefit dinner in New York City, September 14, 2010.

Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged is experiencing an unprecedented surge in interest.

Sales of the novel in 2009 exceeded 500,000 copies, more than double the previous record of 200,000 copies sold; media mentions of Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged are at an all-time high.

Why is a novel published more than half a century ago so relevant?

At this benefit dinner event, Yaron Brook, president and executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute, and John Allison, chairman of BB&T Corporation, will discuss why Americans are turning to Rand’s magnum opus—and why the novel’s revolutionary ideas are crucial to the future of freedom in America. You’ll also learn what the Ayn Rand Institute is doing right now to promote even greater public interest in Atlas Shrugged and Ayn Rand’s philosophy.

In addition, a number of rare Ayn Rand books and manuscripts will be auctioned at the event. Images and descriptions of the items are available for viewing at The Atlas Shrugged Revolution's Web site.