Learning From Great Leaders

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 07:37:11 -0800

I have always been a big believer in role models. There is enormous power in learning from those with whom you come into contact, and adapting the lessons to your own personal circumstance and individual style. This belief underscored one of the original goals of this column from its founding more than three years ago -- to introduce readers to leaders from a wide variety of disciplines in order to learn, develop, and improve.

In this, the second half of my

Talent is Overrated

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:40:51 -0800

If you listened to the mellifluous President-Elect Obama deliver his acceptance speech at Grant Park on November 4th, you wouldn't be alone in thinking that his oratorical gift was naturally endowed. So too with Tiger Woods, who famously has been honing his apparently innate gift for golf since he outputted Bob Hope on the Mike Douglas Show at age two. Similarly, in describing his investment prowess Warren Buffett has oft been quoted as saying that he "was born to allocate capital. ...

Hank Paulson: Man of the Moment

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:48:14 -0800

He's the man who is getting $700 billion to bail out the nation's financial system. He personally drove the US government acquisition of insurance giant AIG and stepped in to engineer the nationalization of the formerly private mortgage behemoths Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. ...

How to Lead in a Crisis

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:00:00 -0800

The current environment presents us with new challenges and opportunities at an ever accelerating pace. While we are constantly in search of stability and predictability with which to base decisions, it has become evident that very rare events, such as the rise of Google, the collapse of Bear Stearns, and 9/11, just to name a few, occur without warning and obviate all of our assumptions and prior forecasts. ...

Executive Warfare: Making it to the Very Top

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Over the last four years, I have frequently recommended the book Career Warfare, by David D'Alessandro, when I wanted to provide real, down-and-dirty advice about how to manage your career. ...

Making the Best Transition

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:01:00 -0800

I've recently spent time with a number of people who have made or are making transitions. I don't want to sugar coat it. Whether you lost your job, sold your company, or relocated as a trailing spouse, transitions are difficult. Let me acknowledge upfront that it's far easier to give advice about how to make a successful transition than it is to actually do it. ...

Playing for Keeps

Tue, 13 May 2008 22:52:24 -0800

"When children play, the world wins."

These simple words are the guiding principle for compelling nonprofit humanitarian and development organization Right to Play. Headquartered in Toronto, Right to Play uses specially designed sport and play programs to improve health, build life skills, and foster peace for children and communities affected by war, poverty, and disease. ...

A First Step Toward Taming Executive Compensation

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:00:07 -0800

Pop quiz: If you were to select one course of action to improve executive compensation practices, would you choose:

A) Track and publish ratios of compensation between the CEO and the lowest-level and average employees.

B) Mandate broader disclosure in proxy statements of compensation awards beyond the top 5 corporate officers to the top 10 or 20 executives. ...

Leadership by Example