Co-Founder & Former CEO, Whole Foods Market
John Mackey: Biography at a Glance
- John Mackey, the co-founder and former CEO of Whole Foods Market, built the natural and organic grocer from a single store to a $19B Fortune 500 company that was purchased by Amazon.
- His memoir of building Whole Foods, The Whole Story, offers an intimate and provocative account of the rise of this iconic company and the personal and spiritual journey that inspired its remarkable impact.
- After disrupting the grocery business and natural food industry, Mackey is now focused on his latest venture called Love.Life, a startup healthcare company dedicated to preventative, holistic health that aspires to take care of the body, mind and spirit.
- A strong believer in free market principles, Mackey co-founded the Conscious Capitalism Movement and co-authored a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling book, Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business.
- Mackey has been recognized as one of Fortune's "World's 50 Greatest Leaders," Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year Overall Winner for the United States,” Institutional Investor’s “Best CEO in America,” Barron’s “World’s Best CEO,” MarketWatch’s “CEO of the Year,” Fortune’s “Businessperson of the Year,” and Esquire’s “Most Inspiring CEO.”
- He was inducted into the World Retail Congress Hall of Fame, which honors retail’s most influential representatives whose ideas have shaped retailing through the businesses and brands they have created, or by their skills in running the retail industry’s giants.
- Mackey was the visionary for the Whole Planet Foundation to help end poverty in developing nations, the Local Producer Loan Program, which provided $25 million in low-interest loans to help local food producers expand their businesses, and the Global Animal Partnership’s rating scale for humane farm animal treatment.
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Biography
John Mackey is an entrepreneur and the co-founder and visionary of Whole Foods Market. In his 44 years of service as CEO, the natural and organic grocer grew from a single store in Austin, Texas, to 540 stores in the U.S., U.K., and Canada with annual sales exceeding $22 billion and more than 105,000 Team Members.
A pioneer of natural and organic foods and a passionate advocate for capitalism as a force for good, Mackey has focused on building a more conscious way of doing business. His vision inspired the Whole Planet Foundation to help end poverty in developing nations, the Local Producer Loan Program to help local food producers expand their businesses, the Global Animal Partnership’s rating scale for humane farm animal treatment, and the Total Health Immersion program to promote health and wellness with Whole Foods Market Team Members.
A strong believer in free market principles, Mackey co-founded the Conscious Capitalism Movement and co-authored a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling book entitled Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business to boldly defend and reimagine capitalism and encourage a way of doing business that is grounded in ethical consciousness. In his follow-up, Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity through Business, Mackey provides a roadmap for innovative, values-based leadership.
Mackey has been recognized as one of Fortune’s "World's 50 Greatest Leaders," Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year Overall Winner for the United States,” Institutional Investor’s “Best CEO in America,” Barron’s “World’s Best CEO,” MarketWatch’s “CEO of the Year,” and Esquire’s “Most Inspiring CEO,” while Whole Foods Market was named to Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work for” list for 20 consecutive years.
A mission-driven entrepreneur, Mackey is deeply passionate about the connection between food and health. His business venture, Love.Life, unites the power of nourishing food, holistic medical care, and precision wellness therapies to make optimal, lasting health and vitality achievable.
Mackey currently serves on the board of directors for Conscious Capitalism, The Motley Fool, The Cato Institute, Institute for Cultural Evolution, and Students for Liberty. His book, The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism, invites readers on the adventure of building Whole Foods Market: the colorful cast of idealists and foodies who formed the company’s DNA, the many breakthroughs and missteps, the camaraderie and the conflict, and the narrowly avoided disasters.
Topics
Conscious Capitalism, Conscious Leadership, and Conscious Culture
Conscious Capitalism movement pioneer John Mackey explores how business can be a force for good and why purpose-driven leadership is the future of sustained success. Drawing on decades of experience building one of the world’s most admired companies, John reveals how a higher purpose can elevate every part of an organization: integrating the needs of all stakeholders, inspiring leaders to grow personally and professionally, and shaping a culture that fuels both innovation and performance.
Through vivid examples from leading “Conscious Capitalism” companies, John demonstrates the four key tenets that create lasting value for customers, employees, investors, suppliers, communities, and the environment: higher purpose, stakeholder integration, conscious leadership, and conscious culture. Attendees will discover practical strategies for evolving their own leadership approach, engaging employees at a deeper level, and creating organizational cultures that thrive in the 21st-century economy.
This session is both a bold reimagining of capitalism and a pragmatic blueprint for leaders who want to unlock business’s highest potential, advancing not only profitability, but also human flourishing and the greater good.
The Whole Foods Story: A Forty-Year Journey of Innovation and Impact
In this captivating conversation, Whole Foods Market cofounder and longtime CEO John Mackey takes audiences inside the four-decade journey of building one of the most influential and beloved brands in the world. Beginning with a scrappy natural foods store in 1978, John recounts the pivotal moments, unexpected twists, and bold decisions that shaped Whole Foods’ rise, which culminated in its landmark merger with Amazon. Along the way, he offers candid reflections on both triumphs and missteps.
More than a business success story, this is the tale of a cultural and dietary revolution that redefined how America shops, eats, and thinks about food. John also reveals the 17 Leadership Principles that have guided Whole Foods from its earliest days and explores the groundbreaking Healthy Eating program the company developed to reverse obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions among their own workforce while dramatically reducing corporate healthcare costs. With warmth, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom, John weaves together the entrepreneurial, philosophical, and human sides of the Whole Foods journey: from the idealism and grit of the early years to the spiritual awakenings, ethical convictions, and leadership insights that have shaped his life and business.
Love.Life: Redefining Health, Longevity, and the Future of Care
After revolutionizing the way the world eats with Whole Foods Market, John Mackey is taking on his most personal and ambitious mission yet: transforming the way we experience health care and longevity. In this inspiring and practical talk, John shares the vision behind his venture, Love.Life, an integrated health and wellness company designed to help people live longer, healthier, and more vibrant lives.
John reveals how Love.Life’s model flips the current healthcare paradigm, moving away from reactive, symptom-focused care toward prevention, root-cause treatment, and proactive health optimization. Under one roof, members have access to a multidisciplinary care team that blends advanced diagnostics, functional medicine, holistic therapies, fitness, and recovery services with nutrition and lifestyle support. This seamless, data-driven, and highly personalized approach empowers individuals to reverse chronic disease, extend healthy lifespan, and reach their full health potential.
With insights drawn from his decades of building mission-driven businesses, John also explores how the Love.Life philosophy can be integrated into organizations — improving employee health, reducing healthcare costs, and creating cultures of well-being and performance. Attendees will leave with a compelling vision for the future of healthcare, along with practical ideas for applying longevity and wellness principles to both their personal lives and their leadership.
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FAQs
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Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book John Mackey to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
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Contact John Mackey's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
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CAA Speakers can check John Mackey's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list John Mackey, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is John Mackey's speaking fee?
John Mackey's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, John Mackey's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
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Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for John Mackey's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book John Mackey as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book John Mackey as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- John Mackey's keynote speaking fee
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How to contact John Mackey for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all John Mackey speaking engagements.
Official contact for John Mackey bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/john-mackey
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking John Mackey.
Is John Mackey available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, John Mackey speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
John Mackey's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
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Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining John Mackey's engaging presentation quality.
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What events can I book John Mackey for?
Book John Mackey for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. John Mackey customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
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John Mackey engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how John Mackey can customize their presentation for your specific event.
John Mackey booking information and availability
Check John Mackey's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure John Mackey for your preferred event date.
Book John Mackey keynote speaker through CAA
Book John Mackey through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for John Mackey, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
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Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book John Mackey for your next event.
Will John Mackey speak at private events?
Yes, John Mackey speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
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Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
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How quickly will I get a response about booking John Mackey?
CAA Speakers responds to John Mackey booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book John Mackey?
Book John Mackey 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get John Mackey pricing information?
Get John Mackey pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
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CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.