Things Fall Apart
Rebecca Boenigk, Neutral Posture, and a Crummy IPO
Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart tells the story of Rebecca Boenigk, president and co-founder of Neutral Posture, an innovative office seating manufacturer in Texas. She takes her company public and finds that being a small, thinly traded public company has serious downsides. Then again, going private is an expensive, difficult, complex process. Should she fix the public problems or take the company private again? Case takes place 1997-2001, but the themes & decisions are classic and highly relevant today. (Also, Neutral Posture is the only woman-owned business ever to go public on Nasdaq.)
Storyteaching™ Materials for Educators: Educators, to discuss your needs, you can e-mail info@braunik.com or sign up for a brief discussion here.
Optimal Courses:
Introductory undergraduate classes in:
- Finance
- Entrepreneurship
Topics Covered:
- IPOs
- Management of a Public Company
- Go Private Transactions
- Women in Business
Competencies Developed:
- Restate
- Synthesize
- Develop & Support Arguments
- Reflect
- Show Curiosity
E-Comic Book
8 pages, 16 panels, including 2 pages of end notes for additional depth in certain topics, it takes ~5 minutes to read. It comes as a printable PDF that looks great on mobile phone and computer screens alike.
Teaching Note
This offers suggestions for homework and classroom discussion.
Guest Lecture*
Becca Braun—MBA, guest-lecturer, entrepreneur, and “supporting author”/co-author of the materials—provides a custom-designed guest lecture so the story is told
and taught in your classroom. Can be in-person or via video.
*Only Available with the “Teaching Pack with Guest Lecture” or "Teaching Pack with Guest Lecture & Video Visit.”
Live Video Visit**
Use this text to share information about your brand with your customers. A live video conference connects you directly with the subject of the comic book (the executive) in real time. Students can ask the executive questions about the business and the path or decision.
**Only Available with the “Teaching Pack with Video Visit” or "Teaching Pack with Guest Lecture & Video Visit.”
Free Evaluation Copy
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