Case Study

Governance at Theranos (B): The aftermath

4 pages
May 2025
Reference: IMD-2668

This is a riveting case about poor board governance at Theranos that fostered a culture of deception and led to the company’s collapse and the criminal conviction of its celebrated founder, Elizabeth Holmes. Case B explains Theranos’s eventual collapse and highlights how the board contributed to a culture of deception within the company.

Learning Objective
  • To examine the role and responsibilities of corporate boards in high-growth, founder-led companies.
  • To understand how board composition and independence impact organizational accountability.
  • To discuss the importance of transparency, reporting and ethical culture in corporate governance.
Keywords
Business Ethics, Governance, Leadership, Board
Settings
America, United States of America
Theranos, Manufacturing, Biotechnology
2003-2022
Type
Published Sources
Copyright
© 2025
Available Languages
English
Related material
Teaching note
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