Defining Moments

8

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Virtu, Virtue, and Success

T

HE RU 486 DECISION

represents the most complex

type of defining moment. Edouard Sakiz, the chairman of

Roussel-Uclaf, had to choose among many compelling re-

sponsibilities: to his conscience, shareholders, employees, women,

physicians, scientists, government health agencies, and—in the

minds of his vigilant, well-organized critics—to the unborn. All

these right-versus-right tradeoffs converged on Sakiz’s desk.

At the same time, the RU 486 decision was a defining moment for

Sakiz personally. He had responsibilities as a physician, a scientist, a

manager, a shareholder’s agent, a citizen, and a family member.

Like Steve Lewis and Peter Adario, Sakiz’s actions would indicate

which of these responsibilities had the deepest roots ...