• Who is responsible for Grasso's termination, the NYSE board or Grasso himself? Could a sound system of board governance have prevented this tragedy from occurring?
• How did Grasso see his role as CEO of the NYSE? In what ways did he contribute to his own demise? What could have Dick Grasso done to avoid getting himself into this situation?
• What factors in his background may have contributed to this situation?
• What are the root causes of leaders losing their way? Can you identify leaders from your personal experience (or you have read about publicly) who have lost their way or are in danger of doing so?
• What can leaders, including yourself, do to avoid these temptations, stay grounded, and be more authentic in their leadership?