Chapter 12 - Alexander Changes Who Can Say No
Governance reforms followed.
No general counsel could unilaterally restrict shareholder access.
Vendor conflicts required independent review.
Executive visitor restrictions needed documented reasons and a second approver.
Whistleblower reports went outside the management chain.
Margaret insisted on one additional rule.
Front-desk staff received authority to pause an executive instruction if it conflicted with visitor policy.
Alexander smiled.
“You want receptionists to overrule executives?”
“I want them to be able to ask a question without being punished.”
That was different.
The company had spent decades teaching employees that hierarchy meant certainty.
Thomas exploited that.
Jessica exploited it in another direction.
Healthy systems needed room for verification.
Margaret joined no management committee.
She had no interest in becoming a corporate matriarch.
She appointed an independent fiduciary to help manage her founder shares.
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Power had arrived late.
She did not confuse possessing it with knowing everything.
