As Americans get ready to mark President’s Day in honor of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, it is only fitting that we take time to reflect on what we can learn from two of America’s greatest leaders. These two gentlemen, who lived and served their presidencies nearly a century apart, should be regarded today as […]

I recently had occasion to speak with a group of sales executives, and I made the point that the art of listening is one of the most powerful tools at the disposal of any business development professional, but more often than not, it is sorely neglected, omitted or ignored. I told my audience that the […]

This past summer, I had occasion to read The Splendid and the Vile, a fascinating and captivating story by Erik Larson, chronicling how Winston Churchill taught the world what true courage and decisive action is all about. On the day Churchill became England’s prime minister, Hitler invaded Belgium and Holland. The Nazi regime had already […]

During the lead-up to Nov. 3, I had occasion for many phone calls outside the country. Some were to the Middle East, several were to the United Kingdom and, of course, a number were to my native Canada. Without exception, all my international compatriots were glued to coverage of the U.S. election. They could not […]

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 […]

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 […]