Fortune magazine Editor-at-Large Bethany McLean was at the Fredericton Delta Hotel October 13th to discuss the Enron scandal, chronicled in her and co-author Peter Elkin’s bestselling book, The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron.
McLean discussed the Enron saga and all of its ups and downs, as well as her personal involvement with the story. Including her origins as an investment analyst at Goldman Sachs and subsequent conversion to journalism to her now famous March 2001 Fortune magazine article “Is Enron overpriced?” and right up until the subsequent executive trials and the death of Ken Lay this past summer.
Saying that Enron isn’t a business story but a story of human nature, McLean used clever analogies and eloquent speech to explain complex business topics in easy to understand terms for all in attendance. The event was sponsored by the MBA Society and the Centre for Financial Studies at UNB Fredericton. Well over 100 people attended, including students, faculty, and members of the local professional and business communities.
Dr. Barry Boothman, the faculty's Associate Dean of Accreditation and Research, has his copy of McLean's book signed by the author.