Mary Kay Ash was an American businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Born in Harris County, Texas in 1918, Mary Kay attended Reagan High School in Houston, Texas and went on to graduate from the University of Texas. Described as a “one-of-a-kind visionary,” Mary Kay displayed a can-do spirit that was evident throughout her life. Mary Kay took on responsibilities as a child, taking care of her father during his illness. She worked hard and advanced in her career as a national training director. When she was treated unfairly, Mary Kay decided to take charge of her own life. (A male she had trained was promoted above her and at twice the pay.) Mary Kay’s response in 1963 was revolutionary—not very many women were willing, or able to step out on their own—seeking and making opportunities that were hard to find in a workplace that was dominated by men. Working for someone else gave Mary Kay the experience and knowledge she needed to start her own company. Mary Kay’s attempt to write a book about her experiences with the “glass ceiling” led to her writing a business plan for the “ideal company.” With her husband and 20-year-old son, Mary Kay started Mary Kay Cosmetics with an investment of $5,000. Her original store opened in 1963 in Dallas, Texas, where it grew rapidly and formed the basis of the large company it is today. Being born in a modest family, Mary Kay had to save her money and work hard to achieve her goals. She also based her business on the Golden Rule. She designed a plan whereby people would be praised for their successes. Her company’s marketing plan was designed to help women succeed and to praise them for the success they achieved. She is famous for her pink Cadillacs awarded to top sales people in her company. Mary Kay’s slogan of “God first, family second, career third” expressed her viewpoint that workers must always keep their lives in balance. At the time of her death in 2001, Mary Kay Cosmetics had over 800,000 representatives in 37 countries with total annual sales of more than $2 billion. By 2008, the company had more than 1.7 million consultants worldwide. Honored as one of the leading female entrepreneurs in American history, Mary Kay Ash is buried in Dallas, Texas. How do business ethics contribute to the overall success of a company like Mary Kay Cosmetics?

QUESTION:

Mary Kay Ash was an American businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Born in Harris County, Texas in 1918, Mary Kay attended Reagan High School in Houston, Texas and went on to graduate from the University of Texas. Described as a “one-of-a-kind visionary,” Mary Kay displayed a can-do spirit that was evident throughout her life. Mary Kay took on responsibilities as a child, taking care of her father during his illness. She worked hard and advanced in her career as a national training director. When she was treated unfairly, Mary Kay decided to take charge of her own life. (A male she had trained was promoted above her and at twice the pay.) Mary Kay’s response in 1963 was revolutionary—not very many women were willing, or able to step out on their own—seeking and making opportunities that were hard to find in a workplace that was dominated by men. Working for someone else gave Mary Kay the experience and knowledge she needed to start her own company. Mary Kay’s attempt to write a book about her experiences with the “glass ceiling” led to her writing a business plan for the “ideal company.” With her husband and 20-year-old son, Mary Kay started Mary Kay Cosmetics with an investment of $5,000. Her original store opened in 1963 in Dallas, Texas, where it grew rapidly and formed the basis of the large company it is today. Being born in a modest family, Mary Kay had to save her money and work hard to achieve her goals. She also based her business on the Golden Rule. She designed a plan whereby people would be praised for their successes. Her company’s marketing plan was designed to help women succeed and to praise them for the success they achieved. She is famous for her pink Cadillacs awarded to top sales people in her company. Mary Kay’s slogan of “God first, family second, career third” expressed her viewpoint that workers must always keep their lives in balance. At the time of her death in 2001, Mary Kay Cosmetics had over 800,000 representatives in 37 countries with total annual sales of more than $2 billion. By 2008, the company had more than 1.7 million consultants worldwide. Honored as one of the leading female entrepreneurs in American history, Mary Kay Ash is buried in Dallas, Texas.

How do business ethics contribute to the overall success of a company like Mary Kay Cosmetics?