Black MBA - Fall 2008 - (Page 16)

FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO Barbara L. Thomas Why Didn’t You Think of That? T his is an age of ideas. Who hasn’t thought about at least one? But in my conversation with Anne Sempowski-Ward of Fashion Fair, I was reminded of how important it is to not only have a good idea, but the right idea at the right time. You even have to be sure that you are the right person, like Anne, willing to turn that idea into reality. This is the topic we want to explore under the banner of “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” Great ideas seem so obvious once they hit the market, right? But how do you come up with this great idea when you’ve been brought in to revitalize a stalwart brand like Fashion Fair looking for growth, when it already has a loyal following and an enviable position in the marketplace? Our organization provides an incredible opportunity for you to do just that. Gain perspective on your situation and think. How can you hope to measure up to a great thinker like the late H. Naylor Fitzhugh? How did a man who launched his career in an era of Jim Crow, redlining and old boy business develop and successfully sell the concept of target marketing? Part of what we hope to do with this issue of Black MBA Magazine, at our annual Conference this fall in Washington, D.C., and later during our Local Empowerment Tour stop in Jacksonville, Fla., is to challenge your thinking about what it takes to be an innovator. We want you to discover for yourself what it takes to become a catalyst for change and an innovator rather than living life as the one who continues to ask, “Why didn’t I think of that?” We developed a few new things, including our NBMBAA® Entrepreneurial Institute supported by founding sponsors Wells Fargo and State Farm. We’ve added innovative new programs to our 5th Annual Leadership Institute sponsored by PepsiCo, and added the NBMBAA ® Industry Theatre to our Career Fair. Read more in the Conference section of this edition. We’re even offering a Conference plenary this year called “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” hosted by two very exciting Black entrepreneurs whose stories you need to know. A few years ago, Franz Johannsen spoke at a Conference about the Medici Effect, or how disconnected bits of culture and information can come together to create something totally new and exciting. Later, futurist Dr. Nat Irvin spoke about “The Arrival of the Thrivals,” a culturally eclectic and radically diverse generation of young adults who run on change like it’s jet fuel. We’ve heard from Kevin Carroll, “The Human Katalyst,” about how to create lasting change through personal transformation and passion. 2008 Conference speaker Tom Peters, the “uber-guru,” proclaims that reinventing yourself – no matter who you are – is no longer optional. Listen to what they are saying and you’ll start to understand that things around you are changing – and changing fast. Your ability to think just as fast, or faster, inside this reality is the key to your success. Our organization provides an incredible opportunity for you to do just that. Gain perspective on your situation and think. I personally guarantee – joining and involving yourself in the National Black MBA Association will be one of the most exciting and rewarding changes you’ve made in your life. Think about that! mba 16 BlackMBA • Fall 2008 • www.nbmbaa.org http://www.nbmbaa.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Black MBA - Fall 2008

Black MBA - Fall 2008 Contents Online From the Chairman From the President & CEO Up Front Who is Middle Class? Life and Times of the Middle Class Modern Times CEO to CEO: Why Didn’t I Think of That? Pass it Forward 30 Years of Conference NBMBAA Board of Directors Honorary Co-Chairs Conference History Speaker Showcase Industry Theatre NBMBAA Case Competition® Scholarship Winners NBMBAA Chapter Presidents Conference 2009: New Orleans The New Face of Recruitment Part-Time is the Right Time Across the Pond On Campus Board Bound MBAs for the USA Market Reality: Good Tapping Company Resources On the Move Employer Profiles Leading Bias-Free Mentoring Matters Faith in Corporate Circles Mideast Region Steps Up its Game Collegiate Chapters All in the Family How to… International Markets Are You Happy? Survive and Thrive Striking a Balance Advertiser Index In Focus

Black MBA - Fall 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.