I’ll admit it: I was ready for a nice long winter break. I was eager to get back to reading bestsellers and memoirs, seeing old friends, renting movies, skiing for hours on end. I even triumphantly abandoned my computer on my desk at school to collect dust as I traveled and relaxed.But after I left,… Continue reading New Year's Resolution
Tag: manufacturing
Brand Management
How I could possibly be excited about the prospect of selling toothpaste, barbecue sauce, or toilet bowl cleaner day in and day out? Ask a number of my HBS friends. For me, the decision is easy-regardless of the product, I will be responsible for running my own business; making decisions about marketing, price points, trade… Continue reading Brand Management
Anthrax: A Student-Doctor Sheds Light
Q: What are the different types of anthrax? A: Although Anthrax naturally, usually occurs in hoofed mammals such as cows and sheep, when they ingest spores, three types of human infections exist after coming into contact with spores: cutaneous (skin via touch), inhalational (lungs via breathing), and ingestional (digestive tract via ingesting). The classic human… Continue reading Anthrax: A Student-Doctor Sheds Light
Ron Gettelfinger
On Wednesday, March 5, HBS welcomed a different sort of guest to campus. Ron Gettelfinger, President of the UAW, spoke before a standing room only crowd in Hawes Hall. Gettelfinger cautioned against the dangers of losing American jobs overseas and called for stronger policies to rebuild U.S. manufacturing capabilities. Unions and management, he argued, should… Continue reading Ron Gettelfinger
Exclusive HBS Interview with Marjorie M.T. Yang
One of the prominent recipients of the 2002 HBS Alumni Achievement Award is Marjorie M.T. Yang, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Esquel Group, the largest garment manufacturer in the world. Based in China, her company manufactures high quality garments for some of the world’s greatest designers, including Hugo Boss, Brooks Brothers, Marks & Spencer… Continue reading Exclusive HBS Interview with Marjorie M.T. Yang
Tech CEOs Draw the Crowds at Cyberposium
Bruce Claflin, President and CEO, 3Com Corporation tells the story of his company’s turnaround. Bruce Claflin took over the helm at 3Com during a particularly turbulent time in the company’s history. In early December 2000, a month before Claflin assumed the role of President and CEO, 3Com issued an earnings warning that caused the company’s… Continue reading Tech CEOs Draw the Crowds at Cyberposium
How Much Difference
It is a phenomenon that, by now, should be well known. Still early in the reading, your eyes complete the last words on Page One of whatever case the evening brings. You have become acquainted with what the protagonist had for breakfast (a bagel with jam and peanut butter), know whether or not she is… Continue reading How Much Difference
Intel & Otellini
Looking rested and fresh following Intel’s spectacular third quarter performance, President and Chief Operating Officer Paul Otellini addressed HBS students Monday on major technology trends, Intel’s changing business model, and the future of computing. Empathizing with today’s tough job climate, Otellini commiserated with the students as he remembered his own graduation in 1974 from the… Continue reading Intel & Otellini
"I am bullish on India": Mr. N. Srinivasan
On Friday (November 19th), members of South Asian Business Association (SABA) met with the Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Mr. N. Srinivasan, to discuss the current economic situation in India. Mr. Srinivasan was bullish on India and expressed his optimism that India will continue to be a major player on the… Continue reading "I am bullish on India": Mr. N. Srinivasan
Euro 2004: The Biggest Sporting Event This Spring
In June and July of this year the world’s second biggest football (soccer for those of you who think that a game where you carry the ball in your hand is called football) tournament will happen: Euro 2004. If you thought the hype surrounding the Super Bowl was big you haven’t seen anything yet… The… Continue reading Euro 2004: The Biggest Sporting Event This Spring
A CEO’s Career: Interview with Ellen Kullman, former CEO of DuPont
Many HBS students dream of breaking into the C-Suite, but how does one get there? Careers in general management are highly sought-after as they offer broad management training and preparation for senior roles. To learn more about this path, I sat down with Ellen Kullman, former CEO of DuPont and board member of General Motors.… Continue reading A CEO’s Career: Interview with Ellen Kullman, former CEO of DuPont
Listen, Learn, Communicate, and Change: How My Employees and I Transformed Union Corrugating Company
In 1992, just after graduating from HBS, I became President of Union Corrugating Company, my family’s metal roofing manufacturing business. The $9mm revenue company was in a severe state of decline replica breitling, facing operational red ink, the loss of a customer accounting for 25% of sales, outdated equipment, demoralized employees, and poor customer relationships,… Continue reading Listen, Learn, Communicate, and Change: How My Employees and I Transformed Union Corrugating Company
Lessons Learned
Twelve years into my ownership of the company, it became obvious to me that growing it to the next stage would not be as interesting or challenging to me as my early years of fixing things and turning the business around. After a first aborted attempt to sell the company in 1999, the final private… Continue reading Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned – Finding a Business to Buy
I learned a lot about prospecting and persistence in my process of finding a business to buy. ÿ Following the now popular HBS ÿ”zip” code theory of career location, I drew a 50-mile radius around my home in the Boston area for a geographic search.ÿ After purchasing a directory of companies in that area, I… Continue reading Lessons Learned – Finding a Business to Buy
Lessons Learned
Valentine’s Day is special for Debby and me; it was the evening of our first date! Working together for 20 years was challenging but contributed significantly to providing balance between family and work-life, strengthening our relationship and accomplishing shared objectives while having fun! ÿWe were partners in raising our 3 children, supporting each other’s individual… Continue reading Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Layoffs were never easy for me; they always had a significant impact not only on those laid off, but their families and on the organization and since I felt personally responsible as the owner or President/General Manager, the decision was never made lightly.ÿ Over the years, it never got easier, but I did develop a… Continue reading Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
In the businesses I operated, I was always deeply involved in setting prices because I found it to be the most immediate way to impact margins and cash flow. “Cost based pricing” establishes prices based on costs of purchases, manufacturing labor and overhead with a markup to attain profit targets.ÿ Many businesses, such as software,… Continue reading Lessons Learned
Where in the World did you Spend your Summer–Naren Shaam (OF)
The Harbus chatted with Naren Shaam (OF), who split his summer between two very different internships. He called his job before HBS – engine design in the automotive industry- “one hundred percent manufacturing and really enjoyable” but decided to challenge himself this summer. He started in Los Angeles working for media investment fund, his first… Continue reading Where in the World did you Spend your Summer–Naren Shaam (OF)
Lessons Learned – Forecasting Improved Sales Revenue
The Harbus is delighted to introduce our latest columnist, HBS alumnus and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Jim Sharpe, who will be sharing business lessons learned over the course of his career. I’ve learned that predicting increases in Sales Revenue is much more elusive than achieving near term margin improvements, especially the further you are removed from the final… Continue reading Lessons Learned – Forecasting Improved Sales Revenue
Regional Profiles – The West Coast – Is it the Best Coast?
Andy Morse (OC), Contributing Writer Sure, “best” rhymes with “west,” but is that all there is to this connection? You be the judge. As many students have likely discovered by now, the U.S. has another coast located about 3,000 miles from here. Found on the left side of a standard map of North America, the… Continue reading Regional Profiles – The West Coast – Is it the Best Coast?
Crude Realities of a Hot Commodity
Sarah Palin’s $150,000 wardrobe caused a commotion, but oil’s $150 makeover, rapid rise to fame and fortune, and sudden recent decline is equally sensational. In 2003, oil was that awkward guy in the corner at $25, lonely and undervalued. By 2008, the barrel re-emerged refined and glorious. Conflict in the Middle East, US Dollar weakness,… Continue reading Crude Realities of a Hot Commodity
Green Living – Say No to Bottled Water
Being a health conscious business school student, you make a New Year’s resolution to drink more water. In your effort to reach the impossible goal heralded by doctors and health experts alike of drinking 8-10 glasses per day, you begin to purchase bottled water. It’s portable, tastes good and is conveniently available at all of… Continue reading Green Living – Say No to Bottled Water
Local Motors Wins Pitch for Change Competition
If you had 30-seconds to make your “elevator pitch,” could you sell someone on your business? How about if you had a little bit longer-2 minutes and 2 slides? That’s what this year’s contestants were up against in the Pitch for Change competition. The goal was to identify business opportunities, both non-profit and for-profit, with… Continue reading Local Motors Wins Pitch for Change Competition
The Graduate Green Living Program
Following last week’s green activities, students around campus may have noticed the presence of a green creature-none other than the Green Frog, a mascot for the Graduate Green Living Program! This month, the Green Frog is focused on conserving a resource important to its habitat and nature’s very own lifeblood: water. Many people don’t fully… Continue reading The Graduate Green Living Program
