Jack Dorsey: Power, Politics, and the Path Ahead

The world revolves around power. Anyone who wants to lead, influence others, build something, or drive change needs power. And those who have it enjoy greater influence, control, and access to opportunities than those who don’t. But how does one actually acquire power? To examine this question, this case introduces students to Jack Dorsey, the “inventor” of Twitter and founder of Square, Inc. (Square; now Block). Despite being ousted twice from Twitter and heavily criticized in the press, Dorsey has remained an influential figure in Silicon Valley. How did he do it? Dorsey’s story is messy, political, and at times ruthless. He became powerful by playing the game in ways most people don’t—or won’t. This case is designed to introduce students to the Seven Rules of Power, a framework for building influence and managing one’s career. The discussion reveals students’ attitudes about power, their beliefs about how and why people succeed, and the barriers that hinder them from becoming their most powerful selves. It pushes them to get out of their own way and begin to articulate a personal road map for building power more strategically.