David Gelles

New York Times reporter and author of DIRTBAG BILLIONAIRE

New York, New York, United States

About

I'm the managing correspondent of Climate Forward at the New York Times, anchoring our climate newsletter and live event series. I've been at the Times for more than a decade, covering tech, media, Wall Street, leadership and more, and my work has been recognized with Emmy, Polk, Loeb and SABEW awards. Before joining the Times in September 2013, I spent five years with the Financial Times, where I covered tech, media and M&A in San Francisco and New York. I'm also the New York Times bestselling author of three books -- 'Dirtbag Billionaire,' 'The Man Who Broke Capitalism' and ‘Mindful Work.'

Experience

  • Author at DIRTBAG BILLIONAIRE
    Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 5 mos

    https://www.amazon.com/Dirtbag-Billionaire-Chouinard-Patagonia-Fortune/dp/1668032260/ref=sr_1_1? Dirtbag Billionaire is about how Patagonia became a global leader in doing well by doing good and how other companies are adopting its principles. Yvon Chouinard has forged one of the most extraordinary careers in modern business history. He founded Patagonia in 1973, which quickly became a wildly popular producer of jackets, hats, and fleece vests, with a cultlike following among hardcore alpinists and Wall Street traders alike, and with sales of more than $1 billion a year. But while Patagonia is by many measures a conventional corporation, it is unlike any other company on the planet. Guided by Chouinard’s anti-authoritarian streak and his unwavering commitment to preserving the natural environment, Patagonia has distinguished itself as a singular beacon for socially responsible business, the rare company that can legitimately claim to be doing its damnedest to make the world a better place, while also making a profit. From its early efforts to take exemplary care of its employees, to its extensive work trying to clean up its supply chain, to its controversial environmental activism, Patagonia has set itself apart from its peers in corporate America with one unorthodox decision after another, proving to the world that there is another way to do capitalism. Chouinard also proved to the world that there was another way to be a philanthropist. In the twilight of his career, he gave away Patagonia, renouncing his wealth and committing all its future profits to efforts to fight the climate crisis. Dirtbag Billionaire tells the story of Chouinard and Patagonia as they turned the business world on its head. Drawing on extensive interviews and exclusive access with the main subjects, this book will offer new insights into the key moments that informed their priorities, shaped the company, and sent ripples across the corporate world.

  • Managing Correspondent at The New York Times
    Jun 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 1 mo

    Managing Correspondent for the Climate Forward newsletter and event series at the New York Times. Anchor the twice-weekly newsletter, host our live events and conduct onstage interviews with world leaders and CEOs, and contribute to the main report with major investigations, features and analysis. https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-gelles

  • Author at The Man Who Broke Capitalism and Mindful Work
    Sep 2022 - Sep 2022 · 1 mo

    Author of the New York Times Bestseller, “The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America -- and How to Undo His Legacy” published in 2022, which reveals legendary GE CEO Jack Welch to be the root of all that’s wrong with capitalism today and offers advice on how we might right those wrongs. Author of "Mindful Work: How Meditation Is Changing From the Inside Out," published in 2015, which investigated the growing influence of mindfulness and meditation on companies across corporate America.

  • Corner Office columnist at The New York Times
    Jan 2018 - Jun 2022 · 4 yrs 6 mos

    Interviewed more than 100 CEOs about leadership, personal histories and the big issues of the day. Notable columns included Melinda Gates, Laurene Powell Jobs, Sundar Pichai and Snoop Dogg.

  • The New York Times (2 yrs 4 mos)
    • Deputy Editor, DealBook
      Mar 2017 - Sep 2017 · 7 mos

      Deputy Editor for DealBook and the New York Times's finance coverage, overseeing reporting on mergers & acquisitions, hedge funds, I.P.O.s and more.

    • Sunday Business Reporter
      Jun 2015 - Mar 2017 · 1 yr 10 mos

      Writer for the Sunday Business section, and of a new column about progressive business issues, called Revalued. http://jimromenesko.com/2015/06/04/new-roles-from-new-york-times-bizday-journalists-david-gelles-and-brian-chen/