Bethany McLean, the Fortune magazine reporter who was the first to question how the energy giant, Enron, made its money, will give a talk based on her book, The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron at 11 a.m. on Wed., Sept. 8 in Graham Chapel. McLean’s lecture, as are all Assembly Series lectures, is free and open to the public. However, the seating for this lecture will be restricted to the public due to an expected large student turnout.
McLean, now a senior writer for Fortune, joined the financial magazine’s reporting staff in 1995. In that capacity she covers a wide range of companies and industries and also contributes to the “Street Life” column for Fortune’s online publication, fortune.com.
Her story, “Is Enron Overpriced?” was published in the March 2001 issue of Fortune. Two years later, McLean’s book, co-written with colleague Peter Elkind, was published. The Smartest Guys in the Room chronicles the scandal and is considered by many as the definitive account of the Enron debacle. Prior to becoming a writer, McLean worked in investment banking.
For information on this event, please check the Web site at assemblyseries.wustl.edu or call 314-935-5285.