My first trip to China last week as part of work with a client brought back memories of business from almost three decades ago. It was a different time and a very different place, but ff you worked in business in the 1980’s in the United States, all eyes seemed to be focused on Japan. From cars to copiers, Japanese companies could seem to do no wrong, and US companies seemed to be able to do not much right.… Read the rest
[Career Planning: Mergers & Acquisitions] What Do You Do When the Rumors Start?
Nothing’s guaranteed except change, and in business (as well as more than just a few non-profits) that means a churn of possible mergers, consolidations, and acquisitions. Across the country biotech companies, financial services firms like asset managers, hedge funds, venture capital and private equity firms, and any number of companies in other sectors are all scrambling – some to stay alive, others to grow by acquisition.… Read the rest
[New Rules] The Name Game: What Job Title Should You Ask For?
Mike Latham, who I know through my work at Barclays Global Investors, is a good guy and a good
manager:
He gets things done, is transparent in his dealings, is funny, works hard, knows the business, and is respected and liked by the people with whom he works.
His job title – CEO of United States iShares – looks like a great example though of “paying” people with a title in order to retain them.… Read the rest
What Should You Know BEFORE the Headhunter Calls?
It’s tough to play well without knowing the rules. The employment game is no different: jobs may not always go to the best, but rather the best who know how to play the game. For those people who are in roles where positions are usually filled by companies using search firms, knowing how "executive search" works, particularly knowing what to do and what to avoid, can propel you throughout your career.… Read the rest
[Land O’Spin] How to Find Great Talent: Susan Boyle and Other Discoveries
I got a chance to catch up with my friend CB yesterday. Bright, hardworking, smart as a whip, and results driven, she’s one of about five people in my life who I would both hire AND work for. Like a lot of others in the bumpy economy, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time recently – is between roles – and is now looking for her next opportunity.… Read the rest
[The Barclays iShares and Genentech Acquisitions] Deals Are Done – Now Comes the Fun
Business and organizational observers in San Francisco and its environs will get a first hand view of how smart – or not-so-smart – the buyers of Genentech and Barclays Global Investor’s iShares unit are in getting real value for their acquisitions. [Update: See Kathleen Pender’s good overview column Net Worth from the April 12th San Francisco Chronicle here ]
While the buyers are different, the name of the game is the same: get value equal or greater to your purchase price.… Read the rest