Lest We Forget - A Very Personal Wounded Warrior Story: 1LT Kyle Snook

As I was in the midst of preparing the previous article about the launching of Team Red, White and Blue to serve the reintegration needs of Wounded Warriors, I received news that made the concept of "Wounded Warrior" very real and very close to home. I count many members of the Snook family among my most treasured friends. Two of the sons of Scott and Cathy Snook are 1LT Sean Snook, West Point Class of 2007, and 1LT Kyle Snook, West Point Class of 2008. Until just a few weeks ago, both of them were serving with their units in Afghanistan.

This past Sunday, Kyle was wounded when his unit was engaged with enemy forces and he triggered a buried pressure-plate-activated IED. He received injuries to his foot and leg. His fellow soldiers managed to extricate him quickly and efficiently from the battlefield and get him to the Forward Operating Base and then to a hospital to deal with his broken foot and shrapnel wounds.

His brother, Sean, wrote the caption to the photo seen above when he posted it on Facebook:

"I got this picture today September 26, 2010. I wanted to share it. We just talked to Kyle and he didn't mind us posting it. In this picture Kyle is receiving the Purple Heart from BG Ben Hodges. We talked to him on the phone within the last hour, he is in good spirits. Keep him and his troopers in your thoughts."

As it turns out, Brigadier General Hodges was a West Point class of 1980 classmate of Scott and Cathy. He was passing through the hospital and recognized the Snook name.

Compassion fatigue is endemic to our busy lives. When was the last time you thought about the continuing plight of those still living in tents more than nine months after the devastating earthquake leveled much of Haiti's fragile infrastructure? How about the miners still trapped underground in Chile? We too easily become inured to suffering - whether on an individual basis or collectively. Amidst the political speechifying and posturing about our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, brave soldiers - like Kyle and Sean and their comrades - continue to put themselves at risk and in harm's way to carry out the mission that has been assigned to them.

Thank God that Kyle's wounds are not more serious. Joining me in pausing to pray in thanksgiving for Kyle having been spared. Pray, as well, for the men and women who continue to serve, and for the families that wait with bated breath for the phone call that may come in the middle of the night telling of another wounded warrior - their son or daughter. They are not a faceless, nameless band - they are our sons and daughters and our neighbors sons and daughters.

Let us not forget.

Al

Waving the Flag for Wounded Warriors - Team Red, White and Blue Is Born

Several of my good friends, including Mike Erwin, West Point grad and battle-tested warrior, have decided to use their love for athletic competition to create a coalition of like-minded life-long athletes to raise awareness and support for Wounded Warriors. This was born the idea behind Team Red, White and Blue.

Here, in Mike Erwin's words, is the dream that has now become reality.

"In a June 2010 study, Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans repeatedly expressed interest in services to help adjust to civilian life. While much has improved since the post-Vietnam era, some polarization between veterans and our society still exists today. Strong relationships between wounded veterans and their fellow Americans are critical to veterans’ reintegration into civilian life as well as our nation’s long-term success. Team RWB believes that our first President summed this up best when he noted that, 'The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.'

As you know, I am very passionate about supporting our nation's wounded veterans....in no small part because I know many of them personally. In 2007-2009, I ran various endurance races to build awareness for wounded vets and to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). Earlier this year, though, I led the formation of a new charity because I wanted to make the experience more personal for 'everyone in the equation'....the wounded vets, their families, donors, Americans using athletic events to fundraise for them----and everyday American citizens who wanted to express their thanks to wounded veterans through personal interaction. This belief drove the creation of TEAM Red, White & Blue, Our vision is to assist wounded veterans to reintegrate into America society following the completion of their military service to our country.

To help meet this challenge, Team RWB is taking a multi-faceted approach. First, our events help raise awareness and funding. They will connect Team RWB members with other like-minded individuals who want to support wounded veterans by getting involved. Second, we are creating an interactive network using social media and other tools that will enable us to strengthen ties within the community---and reduce feelings of isolation. Most importantly, we want to foster 1-on-1, meaningful relationships between wounded veterans and "Team RWB advocates" who will focus on everyday activities that make a big difference: being a friend, spending time together, meeting up for coffee or dinner and performing small acts of kindness on a personal level.

To help promote Team RWB's mission & vision, over the next 11 weeks, I will run approximately 600 miles , highlighted by the Twin Cities Marathon, the 1LT Joel Gentz M-1 Memorial 54 mile challenge on Oct 17th, the Marine Corps Marathon on Oct 31, the JFK 50 Miler on Nov 20th and the Dallas Marathon on Dec 5th----all to support Team RWB.

So I'm asking that you please consider sponsoring me in these events by contributing to Team RWB. You can make a donation online at www.TeamRWB.com. On the right side of the page is a red "donate now" box. You can click there and it will pull up a 100% secure on-line donation site where you can make a contribution using your credit card. There is a line on this page that allows you to note that your donation is "in support of ____." Please consider putting my name in there so I am able to track the donations I have accumulated for Team RWB. If you feel more comfortable donating off-line, you can make a check payable to "Team RWB" and mail it to:

Team RWB

360 Sedgewood Lane

Ann Arbor, MI, 48103

Team RWB is an IRS-recognized, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. I know that there are numerous charities worthy of your hard-earned money, but I really believe that Team RWB stands out for its commitment to making personal connections between wounded veterans and the American people. We believe this approach will transform the way wounded veterans reintegrate into society, so thank you in advance for your consideration to supporting this worthy cause! And please share this email and information with your family, friends and co-workers---and spread the word about Team Red, White & Blue.

Thank you and God Bless America!

Mike Erwin

Team RWB

Founder and Director"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I encourage you to take the time to visit the Website and learn more about Team Red, White and Blue. Consider, as well, supporting Mike and his team as they raise funds for our Wounded Warriors.

Al

Team RWB Website

A Moving Little Partita - "The Auschwitz Violin," a Novel by Maria Angels Anglada

Like a Bach Partita, "The Violin of Auschwitz" is a small piece that packs a punch. Written by the Catalan novelist, Maria Angels Anglada and beautifully translated by Martha Tennent, this tiny gem is a story of beauty surviving amidst squalor and unthinkable human cruelty. Set in a satellite camp to Auschwitz, the book unblinkingly tells the take of a Jewish prisoner, a luthier in his former life, who is impressed by the prison commander to build a violin. the challenge is part of an elaborate wager between the commander and one of his colleagues, and the stakes involve the life of the violin maker.

This book was clearly written and translated with all of the kind of loving care and artistry that Antonio Stradivari brought to the craft of his masterpiece instruments.

The following excerpt is emblematic of the these of beauty surviving in the most hostile of environments:

"Nothing existed other than the camp, other than this island, this monstrous archipelago of subcamps. He {the violin maker/prisoner]felt a gust of wind, and the air was less icy, more gentle. It was the first benevolent gesture in this land of hatred. the swallows would be nesting soon on the street where he had lived in Krakow. Spring, he told himself, would bloom brighter over the bodies of the thousands of dead. It wasn't a comforting thought, but it was true.

He found the coffee more bitter, the slice of bread punier, almost as if his thoughts had weighted it down, kept it from rising. A few moments later, as the inmates were heading to their work areas, he paused to glance at the sky - something he rarely did because he found it always shrouded in clouds or fog - and discovered large patches of blue. A harsh slap on his back forced him to march again. Yes, he thought again as he stifled a sob, spring is drawing near. Our dead will fertilize the earth and spring will return." (pages 55-56)

Written as it must be in a minor key, this small book hits all the right notes and is worthy reading because the epoch it recalls must never be forgotten.

Al

Job opportunities for Experienced Post-Bid Contract Managers

Job opportunities for experienced Post-Bid Contract Managers - Several D.C. areas locations and other major metro areas. Other locations include:

Houston, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Atlanta, Denver, St. Louis, Dallas

For those whose contract management experience is primarily in the military, there must also have been some time spent on the private sector side managing contracts. Contact me for details.

achase47@gmail.com

Al

Unveiling "Hope Unseen" by Captain Scotty Smiley with Doug Crawford

I wish that my schedule had allowed me to be in Pasco, Washington tomorrow for the formal launch of "Hope Unseen - The Story of the U.S. Army's First Blind Active-Duty Officer."

I first learned about Scotty Smiley and his remarkable story when our mutual friend, Dr. Scott Snook of Harvard Business School, shared Scotty's story as part of Dr. Snook's presentation at the initial White Rhino Intersection event. I was so moved by the story, that I invited Scotty, his wife Tiffany, and his co-author, Doug Crandall, to speak at the follow-up event, Intersection 2.0. Their collective sharing of leadership lessons learned through their struggles were deeply inspiring to the attendees

I have read "Hope Unseen" and am already passing along copies to family members and friends. With the help of Doug Crandall, Captain Scotty Smiley pulls no punches in describing the highs and lows of the road that he and Tiffany have traveled since an IED explosion in Iraq robbed him of his eyes and his dreams of a future as a warrior. His strong faith was shaken to its core as he came to grips with the physical insult that had been dealt him, and the uncertain prospects for his future abilities to care for himself and his family.

One of the most poignant moments for me in reading this book came when I read the caption to the last photo in the book of Scotty and Tiffany and their two children. "People tell me that my children are beautiful. Unfortunately, I just can't picture them - but I am thankful for all the life God has blessed me with." For me, that statement sums up the value of this book and its lessons. It is a compelling compilation of stories of success, followed by disaster, failure, frustration, setbacks, revised plans, faith shaken and rebuilt, family and friends standing in the gap, and resurgence of hope over despair.

The Smiley story includes vignettes from Scotty's time at West Point as a cadet, Ranger training, deployment to Iraq, multiple hospitalizations and rehab, blindly climbing Mount Rainier, surfing in Hawaii, standing before a company of soldiers as their sightless commanding officer, teaching cadets at the United States Military Academy, and inspiring the U.S. Olympic Basketball team before the Beijing Olympics.

Scotty Smiley has been named the Army's Soldier of the Year. His story continues to inspire - soldier and civilian, sighted and blind. My friend, Major General (Retired) Gale Pollock, is former acting Surgeon General of the Army. I have heard her recount an interaction she had with a solider at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. the soldier, in despair over his blindness, was not responding to treatment or attempts at rehabilitation. In an attempt to light a fire under this soldier, General Pollock used tough love. At the end of her harangue, she told the young soldier; "I am going to have Scotty Smiley stop by and see you and let you know what things are possible for you."

Scotty and Tiffany and their cadre of family and friends show all of us what is possible in the wake of tragedy and disappointment. Scotty's faith sustains him, but it is not a blind faith. It is a faith that as been tested in the crucible of suffering and doubt and discouragement, and has emerged refined and strengthened.

I am thankful that my blind friend, Scotty Smiley, has teamed up with my friend, Doug Crandall to tell a story that helps us to all see life more clearly and in sharper focus.

To learn more, visit this website.

Blue Rudder Website

The book is now available for purchase. It will be one of the best investments you can make for yourself and for those on whom you choose to bestow this book as a precious gift.

You can purchase now on Amazon:


Al

My Evening At the Kit Kat Klub in Berlin

I spent last Friday evening in Berlin at the Kit Kat Klub. The trip there was easy. No need to jump on the Silver Line to Logan Airport and board a Lufthansa flight to Germany. I caught the Red Line to Harvard Square in the People's Republic of Cambridge, and presented my documents to the burly bouncers manning the Velvet Rope. Voila! I was transported to pre-war Germany and to a time when the Third Reich was aborning and Hitler and his values were in their ascendancy.

The A.R.T., under the artistic direction of Diane Paulus, has used the Oberon performance space in ways that are strikingly consistent. I know when I walk into the space that I will experience a show that is in some way interactive, a bit ribald, bold and will involve some element of gender bending. This production of "Cabaret" is no exception. It is, as it should be, in-your-face and shocking. The audience is not attending a theater performance but is participating in an evening of fun and denial in a decadent Berlin boîte, seeking refuge from the shattering effects of an impending Kristallnacht.

Directed by Steven Bogart, this is a Cabaret that uses its ensemble well and employs the many levels of performing space available in the Oberon. The Kit Kat dancers are all over the place - and all over each other. The choreography by Stephen Mitchell Wright is not quite at Bob Fosse level, but it is quite good and very energetic.

Amanda Palmer plays the Emcee. She does a fine job, but I would have preferred to see a more defined sense of the Emcee's personhood. This becomes problematic during the Torch song, "I Don't Care Much." Because the choice had been made to have a female playing the traditionally male Emcee, having the Emcee suddenly appear in a shimmering evening gown loses its intended impact. Aly Trasher's Sally Bowles sets the right tone. She and Matt Wood, playing Cliff Bradshaw, an ex-pat awash in the swirling currents of a Berlin where the rules are changing, work well together.

For me, the highlight of the evening was the surprisingly wonderful chemistry that crackled between Fraulein Schneider, played superbly by Thomas Derrah, and her Jewish boarder and suitor, Herr Schultz, played perfectly by A.R.T. veteran, Remo Airaldi. In the case of the casting of Fraulein Schneider, the gender bending worked to a tee. Derrah's rendition of "So What" early in the show was a revelation. Within a few bars, I totally forgot that I was watching a man portraying a woman; I was drawn into the dowdy spinster's dark and hopeless world and was moved. Later in Act I, the duet "Married," between Schneider and Schultz offered a poignant moment that evoked shouts of "bravo!" from the audience.

Several directing choices were clearly made to shock the audience. The appearances of tiny swastikas in places where the sun or footlights do not normally shine took the audience's breath away. A final double montage suggesting images from the death camps also left the audience wondering how to respond. "Is is appropriate to clap for the Third Reich and the Holocaust?"

This "Cabaret" is not for the faint of heart, but is well worth the trip to the Oberon. It is always appropriate to be reminded of the terrible cost of denial in the face of impending fanaticism, and being entertained while being prodded is a nice way to spend an evening in Berlin - or in Cambridge.

Mini-Review: Bill Bryson's "At Home - A Short History of Private Life"

I love Bill Bryson's approach to making history accessible. Previously, I really enjoyed reading his "Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words." When I saw that he had written "At home - A Short History of Private Life," I jumped at the chance to read the book.

Bryson and his family live in a former rectory in the English countryside. The house was built in 1851 - a year when many interesting things were happening around the world. He walks the reader through each room in the house and the surrounding grounds and then talks about how we have come to live the way that we do in the 21st century. He even examines the concept of "house" as we have come to know it. As the excursion within his home causes him to consider such mundane items as staircases and windows, we learn much about the politics, economics, and social attitudes that have led to the development of the modern home.

Along the way, he opens his lens a bit wider to consider things like the great Exposition in London in 1851 that featured the Crystal Palace - an architectural breakthrough that eventually led to the modern greenhouse. The Eiffel Tower and Stonehenge make appearances, as do Jefferson's Monticello and Washington's Mount Vernon. I learned that Magellan and Vasco DaGama had a strong influence over what we prepare in our kitchens and serve in our dining rooms.

His discursive style also lends itself to examining the social relationships that have existed among those who have inhabited the home, worked as servants in the home, or have visited over the years.

Bryson clearly has a lot of enthusiastic fans. As I have been reading the book on the subway and in the office, many persons have stopped me to say: "Has Bill Bryson written a new book?"


Indeed he has. I recommended it enthusiastically.

Enjoy.

Al

Top Hedge Fund Is Hiring the Best and the Brightest

A top rated Connecticut based hedge fund is growing and is adding talented individuals. I have recently been asked to add my eyes and ears and networks to their search for the best and the brightest.

There are a number of positions to be filled. As you can imagine, these are very competitive positions that will be filled only by those who bring the most stellar credentials. Ideal background would include service academy graduates or Ivy League graduates with some consulting or investment banking experience, demonstrable analytical skills, a track record of outstanding levels of achievement. The company values military leadership experience. A "tough skin" is also a prerequisite; this is a demanding work environment and is not for the faint of heart.

If you would like to be considered, send a resume and cover letter to me at:

achase47@gmail.com

Feel free to pass this information along to other qualified individuals.

Thanks.

Al

Scotty Smiley on CBS - "Hope Unseen"

This past Sunday, CBS ran an eight minute segment on Captain Scotty Smiley. The piece ran in anticipation of the upcoming release of the book, "Hope Unseen," authored by Captain Smiley with Doug Crandall. The CBS piece is a moving and revealing look at the pilgrimage taht the Smiley family has undergone since Scotty was blinded in an IED explosion in Iraq.

CBS News Piece

FYI - I have finished reading my advance copy of the book, "Hope Unseen," and will be offering a full review within the next day or two. You may want to pre-order the book on Amazon. It is a "not-to-be-missed" book that will inspire and move you.

Al

Mini-Review of" Moscow Sting" by Alex Dryden

I love discovering espionage authors whose work is well written and riveting. So, I was thrilled to read "Moscow Sting" by Alex Dryden. The novel is a sequel to "Red to Black," which I have determined I must now read, as well.

In the style of the best of John LeCarre, Alan Furst and Robert Ludlum, Dryden weaves a tale that involves a woman who was the first female KGB Colonel. She alone knows the identity of a double agent who is being sought be all sides - the British, the French, the Americans and the Russians. Throw in a powerful private security agency headed by a former CIA senior official, and you have the ingredients for a tasty literary bouillabaisse.

As the action springs from Paris to Provence to New York and Washington and remote corners of the American Southwest desert, betrayal piles upon betrayal. Anna, the protagonist and KGB Colonel proves to be an intriguing and fully sympathetic figure who uses her beauty and brains in memorable ways to protect herself, her child, and the mysterious Mikhail.

I loved this book and can't wait to read more from Dryden.

Honoring "Roy" - A Fallen Iraqi Interpreter

I met Blake Hall when he was pursuing his MBA at Harvard Business School. In this transition period that offically signals the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq, Blake has taken the time to reflect on his experience as an Army officer serving in southern Baghdad. In a very moving piece that ran in the Washington Post last Sunday, Blake recalls the unforgettable exploits of a young Iraqi interpreter who gave his own life while working as a "terp"- work that more than once led to saving the lives of American soldiers.

By telling a side of the war in Iraq that is often under-reported - the role of Iraqi interpreters - Blake Hall pays homage to his friend and those of his ilk who have served anonymously and nobly.


Washington Post Article

Preview of "Hope Unseen" - by Captain Scotty Smiley and Doug Crandall

Readers of The White Rhino Report are already very familiar with the story of U.S. Army Captain Scotty Smiley, the Army's first blind active duty officer. I have even shared in the past year some advance peaks into the story being told in the book, "Hope Unseen," authored by Scotty and Doug Crandall. Scott, his wife Tifanny and Doug Crandall each spoke with great impact at last fall's Intersection 2.0 event.

After a long gestation, the book is going to be released on September 14. I was privileged to have been able to offer comments regarding some of the early drafts of the manuscript, so I have been sent a pre-publication copy of the book by Simon and Schuster. I began the book last evening, and was in tears within the first five minutes. I will offer a full review within the next week, but I wanted my readers to be aware of some upcoming publicity events that will lead up to the official book release.

I am pleased to share an e-mail I received this morning from Doug Crandall that tells about some of these upcoming events. I can already tell you - only a few chapters into the book - that this is one you will not only want to read yourself, but will want to give as gifts to loved ones and friends.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Friends and Family --

I promise this is the one and only e-mail blast I will send about Hope Unseen. As you may know by now, the book releases to the public on Sep. 14th. I received my copies today, and it was honestly pretty emotional. From a depression that put me on my bedroom floor two years ago (which I share in the preface), to leaving my job before we ever had a publisher (with the blessing of my amazing wife) -- just knowing God wanted me to do this, to finding a great agent and having ONE publisher that wanted the story, to being down to just a few dollars in the savings account and waiting for an advance check, to forming a loving and enduring friendship with Scotty and Tiffany...after 18 months, the book arrived at our door today.

I don't brag often (I hope). But I will say that I couldn't be more proud of what is between the covers. It is a riveting story of a man and woman whose faith shines through total darkness (literally and metaphorically). I am confident it is going to change lives and spread hope. A member of our publishing team paid me the compliment of telling me that I am a gifted writer. I appreciated that...but in this case I disagree. This book was a gift to me, and I thank God for orchestrating every step of it. More than that, Scotty and Tiffany's example is a gift to us all.

So...we'd now like every possible person to read it. You can help by spreading the word (and I know so many of you already are). Buy a few extra copies and give them as gifts. Post reviews of the book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble and your blogs. The publisher has put together an amazing national media campaign (with events still forming). Scotty will be on CBS Sunday Morning this week. Fox and Friends is interested. He's going to be on Good Morning Dallas. On the USA Radio Network. Family Life Radio. In Touch Magazine. An LA radio show with 1 million listeners. Dave Ramsey is going to talk about the book to his 5 million listeners. This really has a chance to saturate our nation with hope.

But grass roots is still where I believe the power comes from. Telling your friends, who tell their friends, who tell their friends...

Of course if you don't like the book, please don't tell anyone. :) But if you do, share away.

And if you can make it to our launch on Sep. 18th, we can't wait to see you there.

Thanks for reading this e-mail -- which is all about me in a sense. But I stink at sales. I blow every interview I have, because I can't sell myself. This story? I can sell it. It's phenomenal. And it's real.


Sincerely,
Doug


Amazon Link to "Hope Unseen"

A Valuable Resource for Those Considering Transitioning from the Military to Business School

My friend, Antonio Buehler, is a graduate of the United States Military Academy as well as a holder of an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Since his own graduation from a top-tier MBA program, Antonio has helped many former Junior Military Officers make successful application to the nation's leading business schools. I have referred a number of individual s to Antonio, and his insights have proven to be incredibly valuable in determining which schools would be the best to apply to, and how best to leverage the officer's background as a military leader.

I asked Antonio to describe how and why his services have proven to be so helpful to JMOs in transition.

Al,

It was a pleasure chatting with you the other day about assisting JMOs who are looking to transition into the civilian world via a top MBA program. As I told you before, I have helped numerous people apply to and get into the top MBA programs over the past several years, and I am happy to help others moving forward. As you know, the bulk of my experience and my focus is on Harvard and Stanford, but I’ve also had success at Wharton (50% success rate), MIT (100%), Tuck (100%) and Fuqua (100%) as well.

With Harvard in particular, I have figured out what it is the admissions committee is looking for, and as long as the applicant clears certain GPA/GMAT hurdles, I can almost guarantee an interview (which HBS uses as a final screen for admission). My success rate at Harvard has been 75% and includes people with 3-8 years of work experience and GPAs as low as 2.7+. For reference, Harvard’s admission rate last year was 11%.

With Stanford, I am able to work with the applicant to really flush out what matters most to them and why, and put it forth in a coherent and compelling way. While the Stanford application process is much less obvious or predictable, I have a success rate of 33% at Stanford which includes people with GMATs as low as 630 and GPAs as low as 2.7+. Stanford’s admission rate last year was 7%.

The reason the people I’ve helped have been so successful is because:

1) I know what the schools are looking for and I push candidates away from wasting time writing essays that weaken their application

2) I push candidates to really dig deep and expose themselves in a way that they may initially feel uncomfortable with, but allows them to tell a compelling and relevant story

3) I ensure that the candidates have the full package in order, from essays to resume to recommendations to administrative data – I don’t just help with essays

Please feel free to share my information with any strong candidates who are interested in applying to business school, especially if they are focused on Harvard or Stanford.

Thanks,

Antonio

If you would like help in navigating the route to a possible MBA, and you would like to be put in contact with Antonio, send me an e-mail, and I will be glad to make the introduction.

achase47@gmail.com

Al

Conference at Columbia Business School That Could Be of Interest to White Rhino Readers - Friday, September 24

I recently visited with my good friend, Dan Beaudry. Dan heads up the U.S. operations for a firm called "QS" - QS - the world's leading network for top careers and education

During the course of our conversation, Dan mentioned an upcoming conference that QS is sponsoring at Columbia Business School on September 24th. As he described the topics that will be covered, it occurred to me that the event may be of interest to many readers of The White Rhino Report. Dan was gracious enough to give me permisison to tell you something about the event:

Al: "Dan, you’d mentioned a conference yesterday that might be of interest to my Blog readers in New York. Why do you think people might be interested in it?"

Dan: "Well, from attending your White Rhino Intersection conferences and meeting people in your network, I know that your friends and readers tend to be interested in leadership development, graduate business education and ‘doing the right thing’. The conference I mentioned yesterday is the intersection of those things."

Al: "Well, what is this all about? How will these topics be addressed in your conference?"

Dan: "We’re calling it “Developing Responsible Leaders: Who’s Responsible?” Business schools and MBA programs have taken some heat in recent months because many of those blamed for the financial crisis have an MBA. Some people claim that MBA curricula over-emphasize profit, and neglect other areas of executive responsibility. We’ve partnered up with Columbia Business School and assembled some leaders on both sides of this issue for a discussion on how companies and business schools can work together to develop ‘responsible’ leaders. It’s an important dialogue to have – particularly in the heart of world’s financial center."

Al: "What do you mean by ‘responsible’ leadership?"

Dan: "That’s part of the discussion, actually. I expect that business ethics, shareholder return and corporate social responsibility will all surface at some point. We’ll have learning and development executives from some of the larger financial institutions (AIG, CIT, Marsh, etc.) involved in the program, as well as some professors from New York-area business schools. All White Rhino Report readers are welcome!"

White Rhino Report readers interested in attending the conference will get $100 discount courtesy of Al Chase by entering coupon code WHITERHINO during check out. Click here to register.

Details:

Columbia Business School

September 24^th, 2010

9:00-4:30

Click here for the full agenda and speakers list