Happy 50th Anniversary: Bob Dylan comes to NYC & NJ

For those of you who know me over the years you are aware that I am a big fan of Bob Dylan. His music, poetry and artistry have had --and will continue to have---a tremendous impact and influence on our culture and on global consciousness as well.

This week marks an important anniversary for Bob, for it was way back in January of 1961, shortly after the famous inaugural speech of President John F. Kennedy, that Bob made his way to New York City to make his mark at the young age of 19. He came east to see his inspiring role model, Woody Guthrie, who at that time was languishing in Greystone State Hospital in Morris Plains, NJ. Bob had read Woody's book, Bound for Glory and his life was changed forever. He began to see himself as a player in the long line of American folk musicians---authentic interpretators of the spirit that defines our country in so many ways. But back in January of 1961, Bob was not just making a trip east to discover his voice, he was making a pilgrimage to Morris Plains to meet Woody Guthrie, too. It was very cold back then---just as it is today. There were a string of snow storms and bitter cold during the winter of 1961 in the northeast; not so different to what we are experiencing at the present time here in the northeast. So, I would like offer Bob congratulations on his 50th anniversary of making that long ago journey because he has enriched so many lives from that moment on. It took a lot of courage, intelligence and curiousity to sally forth from the safety of his native midwest. How many of us would have done the same thing? I doubt that many of us would...and that is in part what makes his early accomplishments so incredible and inspiring.

On the very next day after arriving in NYC and performing at an open mike session at the famous CAFE WHA? in New York's Greenwich Village, Bob made traveled into "deepest NJ" to visit Woody in his hospital room in Greystone State Hospital in Morris Plain, NJ. It was a very brave and amazing thing he did. Visiting any hospital is never easy---but this one was famous for its incredible scale ( over 7000 patients) and that fact that it housed a great many people who suffered from mental illnesses; scary to think about that fact, even today. But, despite any fears Bob may have had about going to see Woody at Greystone---he went ahead, not once but many times. He would talk with Woody and play for him, too. in his hospital room; most often his interpretations of Woody's songs. Later, Bob would bring his new found friends along with him when he would travel to Morris Plains to see Woody, Joan Baez, among them.

I became so interested in this story that I decided to write a film script about Bob's first weeks in New York City and NJ. I embarked on this project because I think the story deserves to be more widely known, since it is so rich with character and historical interest, too. It is part of the universal story of "becoming" that every person experiences as they make the transition into adulthood; but with a backdrop of Greenwich Village, Greystone Hospital during a nascent period that preceeds the tumult of the '60s. If you are interested in learning more about the script, please drop me a line.

So, in closing today......
Happy Anniversary, Bob---and thanks for all you have done! Thanks too, to Woody Guthrie who was Bob's inspiration----both of them are great Americans who deserve our gratitude and admiration.

Peace---always,

Keith

NYC Engineering and Innovation: Mayor Bloomberg Press Conference featuring KULPER AB member President Jerry Hultin NYU Polytechnic University

Dear Colleagues
As you all know we are keenly interested in higher education and innovation----it is our focus here at KULPER---“where higher ed meets corporate innovation”.

It is a pleasure to share with you a video of yesterday’s press conference at Columbia University concerning the initiatives of Mayor Bloomberg and fellow K-AB member, President Jerry Hultin –NYU Polytechnic University. Our new friend Dr Buzz Paaswell at City University also figures prominently in the news conference.

KDK NOTE: Jerry and Buzz were integral parts of a news conference this week that included Mayor Bloomberg and other NYC based leaders in engineering higher ed/entrepreneurship http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/?front_door=true

The good news is that NYC is showing real progress in job growth. Engineering lies at the heart of company creation and innovation. We will follow the progress of these initiatives very closely. The role we look forward to playing an increasingly larger role is in helping our higher ed and corporate clients attract the right leaders for their exciting and vital initiatives.

Wishing you all a good weekend---and congrats again to Jerry & Buzz for the great leadership they are showing in helping to make NYC a true global center of innovation.

Warm regards
Keith

Barron's Rountable Comment: KDKULPER on STEM/Higher Ed issues

Today's issue of Barron's contains some great remarks by their august round table members about the forecast for the economy in 2011 and beyond. Abby Joseph Cohen, who is an important member of the senior team at Goldman Sachs remarked about the paucity of students who graduate our universities with degrees in science, engineering etc. I could not agree more that this is real issue that could perhaps be addressed by smart Deans and professors who recognize the same problem
Here is what I said today as comment in Barrons
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052970204555504576075983972474462.html?mod=djembwr_h#articleTabs%3Dcomments

All the best
Keith

Passports.com---a great way for a young person to experience the world

It is a real pleasure to write this entry.

Many years ago I was privileged to travel to Europe with Dr Gil Markle and a group of college professors and secondary school instructors along with a large group of high school students from all over the country. At the time the organization was called the American Leadership Study Group ( ALSG). It was a life changing experience for me and for all of the other teenagers on the trip. We started in London --crossed the English Channel and headed off for incredible destinations throughout Europe with stops at US Embassies, world famous sites and a few discos, too! Dr Markle is the genius behind Passports, which is the successor organization of ALSG. Passports www.passports.com is the oldest and best travel/learning organization for high school and college students in the world.

I will be happy to share some anecdotes, but suffice it to say, Dr Markle organizes his trips with class and panache. If you have a youngster who you think could benefit from one of his trips---they are all excellent---then you might like to check out his website. Dr Markle has a staff that helps him organize and operate his many programs. Important for parents to know, he has always offered a very attractive deal to teachers and college profs ( and others) willing to act as the adult counseller(s) for a group of students coming from a particular school, university or program. For example, when I traveled with Dr Markle, our group from Delbarton School was led by Fr Karl Roesch, OSB. Fr Karl had a great time and we behaved for him because as he said. " I will be seeing you in September!"

I am sharing this with you all as a "thank you" to Dr Markle for enriching my life, many years ago; the effects resonate for me to this day. The trip made me bigger in many ways. The students I traveled with were great and the counselers equally so---but, the depth and breadth of the experience ---as led and organized by Dr Markle was unforgettable. I hope that my entry will encourage you to learn more---I had a great time and my memories remain fresh. Paris---Heidelberg--Innsbruck--Rome--Florence.....How fortunate I am to have had great parents who were willing to send me off for 6 weeks of travel, learning and fun. Maybe you will want to do the same for your young charges!

If so, I am sure that Passports.com could be a great option. www.passports.com

Warm regards from an intrepid traveler----ALSG lives!

Keith

Research & Innovation: NJ Style

Since the earliest days of mankind, ideas have driven the progress and survival of our species. As many know, New Jersey is the State that innovates. We have been that way all along. Probably because we are so close to two major cities, New York and Philadelphia, and there was and still is, room here for researchers to set up labs and have at it. These researchers often go on to licensing what they invent and some set up their own companies, hence the reason for our support and interest in their activities. KULPER & COMPANY supports early stage innovation---both at universities and the companies---through our efforts to help attract top talent as well as through direct investment.

I am sure many of you can identify with with Thomas Edison. He is the father of so many brilliant inventions that led to the formation of entire industries which have improved the quality of life for all of mankind. He is a hero for sure. He is also an inspiration to anyone who embraces creativity and hard work. While we look back at Edison and admire him for his character and soaring intellect we need to keep our eye on the ball of what is happening now. Innovation is a constant ----particularly in New Jersey

I would like to draw your attention to the work of Emily Carter, PhD who now heads the Andlinger Center at Princeton University--here is a brief description about it:

Princeton's Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, is an interdisciplinary institute that will seek to bring together scientists and engineers, as well as policy makers and economists, to develop new means of sustainable energy production, energy conservation, and environmental protection. The center is financed through a $100-million gift from a Princeton alumnus.

This is of course great to see since the work that will be done there will be highly impactful. It is the kind of work that our firm endorses wholeheartedly. To read the article

http://chronicle.com/article/Chemist-Channels-Her-Energies/125688/

Heroes like Edison are everywhere, particularly in our great Nation----but New Jersey is a place where they tend to thrive. So, 'kudos' to Dr Carter---and may her efforts produce great outcomes.

Stepping up to CEO or President: What does it take?

I get called frequently from candidates interested in growing and developing their careers. Some of them are looking forward to having the big job in the corner office and think that a search firm can help them into that seat. They are right to think that...as a high percentage of CEO and President jobs are filled with the assistance of an exec search consultant. There are many books that address this topic so I will not offer a comprehensive step by step approach but from time to time I will share my thoughts about this interesting topic in my blog.

Today I heard from a women who is currently the assistant provost of academic affairs at a major medical school. She is interested in becoming president of a university or college sometime in the future. She is in mid career now and gaining a lot of good experience in her current role which includes dealing with human resource administration, budgeting, career develoment and strategic planning. She is also involved with grant management and fund raising. I began by saying to her..."the better you serve your current constituencies the more likely you will find yourself being nominated (by them) for a bigger role, because they have confidence that you can do the job---you want." This is huge on many levels because your peers and superiors generally will only recommend people who they think are ready to step up.

It seems to me that people who go on to become really effective presidents or CEOs are well regarded and respected by their peers, subordinates and superiors throughout their careers. These are usually the people who can step into a university or company and be able to successfully transform it in the way the board envisions, too. Throughout their career candidates like these are building muscle to be ready for the heavy lifting of the big job. It is really great to see a well prepared president or CEO come in and do a great job acheiving the Key Performance Indicators of their new job. It happens like this when the candidate is prepared---ie., his or her reach does not exceed his or her grasp!

If you are the chair of the search for a new president or CEO here is a suggestion. A good way to assess if the candidate is really ready to step up is to drill down into his or her behavioral competencies gained through measurable accomplishments

We always tell our clients. Begin the search process with a clear statement of what you want the hired candidate to actually achieve--by when--and then provide as much information about the current state of affairs and strategic goals of your organization to qualified candidates. Discuss this in depth to see how experienced they really are in completing the tasks ahead that you and your colleagues believe will move your organization forward. Sometimes a good "athlete" can step up and handle a major challenge that he or she had no prior preparation to address. This is good stuff, but you don't want to be counting on just a "good athelete" to take you to the Promised Land. Your new president or CEO is going to need to have good instincts for sure---but past accomplishments, and failures too, are often the most effective predictor of future performance in a new position.

So, if you are a candidate for the big job, what are you doing now to prepare yourself for the specific job deliverables as well as the unforseen slings and arrows that are sure to come? Keep gaining experience in the areas that you believe you will need to understand to do your new job well. And remember, "heavy weighs the crown"; once you put it on it is yours to wear.

How to interact with an Internal Candidate during a search

I was speaking today with one of our clients and we discussed an important question: " How do we handle an internal candidate for the VP search we conducting with KULPER & COMPANY?"

As with most searches we conduct for our clients there is typically an internal candidate that the client would like to consider even when the decision has been made by the President, COO or Provost to conduct a nationwide external search. It is really important to remember that internal candidates are colleagues and will likely stick around regardless of the outcome of the search. Clearly, they should be treated with sensitivity and honesty throughout the search process because they will talk with their friends inside the company or university about how fairly and professionally they felt they were treated throughout the search process.

As with most things in life ---the GOLDEN RULE... ( with slight adaptation)--- is a very good guideline. You don't need to go overboard ---be consistent----treat your internal candidates the same way you do external candidates. Make sure the internal candidates are provided with all the information about the search and plenty of access to the search consultant and search committee throughout.

At the end of the search you will feel particularly gratified to hear the internal candidate say: " I work for a great organization. During the search I was given all due consideration throughout the process. Even though I didn't get the offer, I always felt that I was being treated fairly and honestly". This kind of feedback is not only a commentary about the professionalism of the search process but also important affirmation of company or university culture.

So, be fair---inclusive and highly communicative with well qualified internal candidates. You will be helping to support and affirm the real culture of your organization.

ADP Jobs Report

This morning's ADP jobs report is the kind of quantitative verification that we have been expecting here at KULPER & COMPANY because our phone has been ringing much more often from prospective clients in the past 2 months---but particularly, this week! KORN FERRY KFY: NYSE (a reliable indicator for the financial health of the executive search consulting business) recently reported very solid earnings. Challenger, Gray a national outplacement firm has concurrently reported very low lay off rates among their key clientele .

The signals are very positive for the economic recovery which should keep accelerating in 2011 and into 2012.

How is your company or academic institution doing? What is your forecast for 2011?
Are you poised to bring in new leaders to help your enterprise grow and develop?

Make a comment .... we would enjoy seeing what you think. And please feel free to contact us here at KULPER & COMPANY if your firm is considering use of an executive search firm to help attract and hire the right leaders for your company or academic institution.

Warm regards,
Keith