Black MBA - Spring 2008 - (Page 35)

value-added just by their addition to the company.” Some executives make the mistake of not listening to recruiters when they come knocking, says Willie Carrington. “Most people are busy working,” he explains. “Their head is down. When somebody calls them and says, ‘Let’s talk,’ they say, ‘I’m busy.’ And most of them won’t talk. Know when most of them will talk to me? When they are ready to leave a company. You know when I am ready to talk to them? When I want to talk to them.” The exasperation comes across in Carrington’s voice as he warms to the subject. “I got a job that fits your background, and I call you and you don’t have time to talk to me. Then, you call me when I don’t have a job, and you want me to talk to you. The part they forget is that I’ve got the goodies. I’m going to give them to somebody. If not you, I’m going to get somebody else, and you won’t even know it.” Weaver received three offers of “goodies” as he prepared to leave his old job. That was activated by alerting his friends and associates that he was seeking senior-level work. When contacted by the recruiting firm seeking to fill the position at KeyBank, three of them recommended Weaver, including one who had worked with Charles S. Hyle, who would become Weaver’s immediate supervisor at KeyBank. In the end, Weaver received job offers from Bank of America, Wachovia and UBS, the world’s largest manager of private wealth assets, based in Switzerland. Without his network of advisers and mentors, however, Weaver fears he would have made the wrong decision. “On its face, I probably would have taken the Bank of America road,” Weaver recalls. “But one of the people in my network made me aware that an old-time banker, Tom Bunn [Thomas “Tom” Bunn], had left Bank of America and was now president of the investment bank at KeyCorp. When I made everyone aware that Tom Bunn indirectly would have influence over what I would do at KeyCorp, they went to great lengths to tell me how wonderful he is.” Bunn, Vice Chair of KeyCorp, is responsible for Key National Banking, which includes investment banking, capital management and fi nancial risk-management. During his 23 years with Bank of America, Bunn established the bank’s global syndicated finance business and led the formation of the global leveraged fi nance business. When he left, he was managing director and head of global debt capital markets. “The easier decision would have been to go to Bank of America, but with additional information, I got to figure out that if Tom Bunn is at KeyCorp, doing leveraging, this must be a great opportunity.” Another factor in Weaver’s decision to take the job was that Betsy Gile, a former colleague at TD Securities, had at one time worked with Charles Hyle, KeyCorp’s Chief Risk Officer and Weaver’s future supervisor. In addition to being one of the persons who recommended Weaver to the search firm, she talked up Hyle. “You need to have a sponsor in corporate America when you move up to a position… where you’re one of the top 30 people in the organization, which is what I am,” says Weaver, who earned his undergraduate and MBA degrees from Cornell University. “Chuck Hyle, in addition to being my boss, is my advocate when I am not in the room.” Weaver said recruiting firms should not be viewed in a vacuum. “A search firm cannot supplant a network,” he emphasizes. “Three people in my network recommended me to the search firm. I don’t know, but I suspect the diversity of references possibly intrigued my boss. It’s your network that helps you discern an intriguing opportunity instead of just a job.” mba BlackMBA • Spring 2008 35 http://www.bnet.fordham.edu

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Black MBA - Spring 2008 Passion, Purpose and Power Contents Web Browsing From the President & CEO Up Front Advertising for Change CEO to CEO: Straight Talk with Barbara L. Thomas and Renetta McCann The New Executive Search Wealth Building: A Head Start on Investing and Saving Young Continuing Education: Lifelong Learning is Easier than You Think Making Good: Catching up with some of NBMBAA’s 2007 Scholarship Winners On Campus: Universities Win Grants to Fight Poverty Public Service: Does Your MBA Fit in the Government Sector? Bridge Building: Make a Career of Giving Back Steady Speed: Kim Harris Jones Shares what Drives a Successful Auto Industry Career Financial Planning: A New Way to Work Your MBA Global Focus: Keeping up with the Competition Clock On the Move: Member News, Promotions and More Industry Focus: Biotechnology, Energy, Food & Beverage, Global Media and Entertainment Employer Profiles: Campbell Soup, FINRA Financial Finesse: Denise Hales Harrod and CompuCredit Advocate for the Financially Underserved Creating Lasting Change: GE Impacts Quality of Life in Africa William W. Wells Jr.: Finding Strength in Diversity Leaders of Tomorrow® Community Service Program: NBMBAA® and Wal-Mart Partner to Reward Students Who Give Back Reaching Out: NBMBAA® Chapters Give Back to Their Local Communities How To… Buy a Franchise: Understanding the Basics of Acquiring a Franchise After the Gridiron: Keith Sims – Dunkin’ Donuts Franchise Confidential: Paul Hubbard – Papa John’s pizza Strength Through Adversity: Bob and Hortense Bobbitt – McDonald’s On the Ground Floor: Valerie Daniels-Carter – Pizza Hut, Burger King, Auntie Anne’s Use Your Superstar Status: Black Entrepreneurs Break into Japanese Economy Marketing Maven: Odyssey Media Entrepreneur Linda Spradley Dunn Staying the Course: Black Marathoners Share Lessons from the Race Relationship Forum: Soul-Mate Strategies for the Career-Minded Vacations that Matter: Travel to Make a Difference Advertisers Index

Black MBA - Spring 2008

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