October's third-quarter earnings statements underscored a formidable leadership problem for financial institutions. In today's world, success no less than failure can lead to crisis for businesses vilified as profiteers amid misery.

If answers lie anywhere, they lie with Goldman Sachs' (GS Quote) Chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein. 2009 has been an extraordinary year in the great institution's history. Third quarter net income tripled while the second quarter saw the largest profit since Goldman Sachs went public. Commentator after commentator echoed analyst Michael Hecht, JMP Securities LLC in New York: Goldman Sachs' "biggest challenge and the thing that seems to get the most press is how much they put aside for comp expense." It was in this difficult context that...
TAGGED: Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman Sachs