Wal-Mart Stays Nimble: Scott

Wal-Mart's new, urban model is evidence of tying into consumer demand. Uncharacteristically small store footprints of 20,000 square feet are planned to mine retail spaces in areas such as downtown Chicago and Philadelphia. New York City has been a moving target, evading Wal-Mart's sights due to union opposition, but [Lee Scott] disagreed with those who believe it is necessary for Wal-Mart to penetrate the nation's largest city. "There are a lot of places for Wal-Mart to grow," he said. Scott helped lead Wal-Mart to make gains in a number of progressive initiatives, including sustainability. The green initiative has been no easy task, but it's indicative of how Scott approaches problems. "Sometimes you can over-think things to the point where it paralyses you," he says, noting senior management was concerned about pursuing goals that might be "unattainable."