When Stephens Inc. launched “This Is Capitalism” some eight years ago, in 2016, we did so with three primary objectives. The first was to tell the dramatic, inspirational, and often moving stories of great American entrepreneurs whose courage, perseverance, and ingenuity were unleashed by the freedom that capitalism allows.

Look at Madame C.J. Walker, the child of slaves, who became one of the first self-made female millionaires thanks to her line of hair-care products. Her brand is still very much alive.

Sam Walton started Walmart in 1962 in rural Arkansas to give people greater access to a wide variety of goods at competitive prices. Now Walmart is the largest company in the world by revenue. Its economic power dwarfs the GDP of many European and Asian countries.

Chuck Williams helped usher in America’s appreciation of haute cuisine and cooking by turning a hardware store into a shop for French specialty cookware. Today, William-Sonoma’s brands include the eponymous cookware stores, and home-furnishing specialists Pottery Barn and West Elm. 

Designer Josie Natori, born in the Philippines, came to the U.S. for college and began her career as an investment banker. Unfulfilled, she launched a clothing company that satisfied her artistic side and pays homage to her Asian roots.

While all of these names or companies are well-known, equally important are the businesses and entrepreneurs that are not household names. Their stories are all the more potent because they demonstrate how capitalism creates the circumstances for great ideas, regardless of their source, to flourish.

Also, we wanted to help young people understand capitalism as an economic system that is the engine of growth, prosperity, and innovation in our country.  From small businesses to multinational ones, companies privately held to those whose stocks are traded, enterprises with a single visionary to family businesses with long legacies – they all owe their origins to the free market.  

Finally, we wanted to create a resource for those looking for more information about capitalism and entrepreneurship: students, educators, nascent business owners, advisors on family businesses.

I am proud to say that I believe we have been successful in meeting all three goals.

But we are not done. As we go forward, we will offer new content to expand the understanding of capitalism and appreciation for it. Part of the richness of of capitalism is that there will always be new stories that illustrate its power.

As the CEO of a family business that was started more than 90 years ago, I am acutely aware of and grateful for capitalism and all that it makes possible. And I am proud to say that capitalism still has the ability to awe me, whether through a transaction as simple as a basic exchange of money for goods, or a complex business deal that involves a thriving enterprise and hundreds, if not thousands of individuals.

I hope you will continue to find “This Is Capitalism” a valuable source of inspiration and information. 

Warren A. Stephens

Chairman, President and CEO, Stephens Inc.