Rajat Gupta and David Petraeus: Birds of a feather?

Both are brainy. Both are brilliant strategists. Both were stars, one in the corporate firmament and the other in the military firmament. Both rose and rose to the stratosphere from plebeian childhoods. Both were role models that inspired people all over the world. Around sixty years of age, both appeared to be destined for even greater heights.  

Neither Gupta nor Petraeus took a single false step in their illustrious careers. Then both fell dramatically from grace when they were at the pinnacle of international reputation. One was brought down by a financial scandal and the other by a sex scandal. Are they then like you and me, slave to the same frailties as you and I are? We would have thought, along with Maslow, that once a person’s main needs - for food, sex, security, achievement - are met, he would focus on self actualisation and reputation.  Both Gupta and Petraeus had met all these needs. What is it then about sex and greed that snare such extraordinary achievers with a solid reputation?

Perhaps we are making a wrong assumption when we say that Gupta was brought down by greed and Petraeus by sex. Greed and sex do play a role in this tragedy, but a minor one. The main cause is quite different, but it is the same for both Gupta and Petraeus.

What is it? The clue lies in the fact that neither of these two heroes was investigated by any agency; investigations into other people's wrongdoings stumbled into these two. They were above suspicion. Suspecting them of any wrongdoing was as silly as wondering whether the Pope was practising black magic. Such feeling of super safety led to complacency, to hubris. The trouble with hubris is that it dulls the afflicted persons’ nerves. They don't take the usual precautions that you and I do because they don't feel the need.

We don't know why Rajat Gupta gave highly sensitive confidential information to his friend Raj Rajaratnam of Galleon Hedge Fund and who initiated the cycle of transactions. But as Gupa was floating in a super safe zone, it is not difficult to imagine him doing a small favour to his friend without worrying about the possibility of being found out.

We don't know how the extramarital affair between Petraeus and his adoring biographer Paula Broadwell started and who took the initiative. But it is not difficult to imagine the war hero in such an exalted position throwing caution to the winds; there was no way anyone would suspect him of anything improper. You don't need to look around before undressing in your own bedroom.

Reluctance to do what they did would probably have been perceived as an unacceptable sign of weakness in both the cases. Perhaps people afflicted by hubris are like you and me when we are in an inebriated state - pretty easy to be persuaded to do silly things.

Photo Credit: Rajat Gupta (The Guardian, UK); David Petraeus (Vanity Fair)