'You Don't Have to Shut Your Heart Down'

What does it take to be a good leader? During his 44 years as CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey learned his answer: Serve the business, serve its people, and never abandon yourself.

- JASON FEIFER

John Mackey is cofounder and the longtime CEO of Whole Foods. But in the early days of his business, he was called something else. And it wasn't meant as a compliment: Wacky Mackey.

One of his cofounders came up with the name, as a way of mocking Mackey's lifestyle. To his doubters, Mackey seemed like an unserious leader for an increasingly serious business. He started the company when he was 24, having never attended a business class. He meditated, took psychedelics, and had many spiritual pursuits. He looked like a long-haired hippie. And while Mackey liked who he was, the skeptics ate at him. He wondered if he could grow into a fully respected leader, while still being himself.

Ultimately, of course, he prevailed-building and running Whole Foods for 44 years, until his retirement in 2022. His rude cofounder had left the business decades earlier. Mackey chronicles all this and more in his new book, The Whole Story. "I wanted to convey to other entrepreneurs that this is a journey," he says. "You have to grow, both personally and as a leader, as fast as the business. If you don't, they'll throw you out.” Here, he explains how to become the leader your company needs-without compromising your values.

In the early days of Whole Foods, you seemed like a great contradiction: You were growing into the role of a leader, and the company was succeeding, but your refusal to conform to people's expectations put some people off.

Yes. Here's a story that's not in the book. A woman was leaving Whole Foods Market. I didn't know her, but she really wanted to speak with me on her way out. So she came into my office and basically told me, "You're not like a CEO is supposed to be."