By Charles V. Firlotte, Strategy Consultant For at least the past two decades, we have heard much about the deep divide in America; how politics has become a “wedge” in our culture. To be sure, the great divide in American politics and its corresponding impact on society at large did not begin overnight, and it […]

Being unemployed or under-employed and searching for work during the coronavirus pandemic certainly presents unusual challenges, especially when most work environments are still under a quasi-lockdown. In the U.S. alone, the furloughs and layoffs of more than 25 million wage-earners has adversely affected the economy, coupled with the reality that some companies are trimming wages […]

Google’s recent launch of a selection of short, affordable professional courses for students who want to learn how to perform specific jobs has seemingly escaped the attention of the masses. I believe, however, that it should be a wake-up call, particularly to colleges and universities. Google’s venture is likely to transform higher education as we […]

Shortly after the coronavirus pandemic hit American shores and we began a period of isolation, I started reading Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela’s amazing autobiography chronicling his incredible life’s journey. I was interested in how different people react and adapt to a crisis; after all, the pandemic is a catastrophe the likes of which […]

The first and only time I met Jack Welch was in early November of 2017. He was at Sacred Heart University to visit the College of Business, which bears his name.  As a trustee of the University, I had come out to greet the legendary titan of industry. Welch was complex. He was plain-spoken, but […]

  Two of my favorite millennials are Kelli Meyer, Director for Student Involvement, University of Bridgeport, and Erin Santa Mercede, Director for Leadership Programs, Bridgeport Regional Business Council.  Kelli and Erin also in leadership positions of Thrive, a millennial group promoting both the personal and professional development of its membership.  Here we discuss professional development […]

A tight labor market and changing demographics demand that companies rethink their approach to talent management and retention, which has traditionally focused largely on the approximately 15% of the workforce that has been identified as “high potential” (HIPO). With U.S. unemployment rates at a near-historic low of 4%, companies can no longer afford to focus […]

How Going with the Flow Can Lead to Organizational Failures When it comes to the workplace, when did we become so obsessed with going along to get along?  Somewhere along the way, we became afraid to show a healthy dose of disagreement. We have become so obsessed with “teamwork” and so frightened of being viewed […]

Recruiters and trusted advisors always recommend that you make sure you’re a “cultural fit” with an employer—and with good reason. An entrepreneurial soul may feel restricted at a company that favors the tried and true; likewise, a relationship-oriented person may feel out of place when algorithms are valued over human judgment. You perform your due […]

On May 11th, 1997, a chess-playing IBM computer dubbed “Deep Blue” beat grandmaster Garry Kasparov. The Russian prodigy had won the first game, lost the second, took a “draw” on the next three, and lost the final. Incredulous, he suggested that the computer had been controlled by a human grandmaster. Though few realized it at […]