Lunch with a Leader
Critical thinking and collaborative leadership
Jeff Larson ’93, president of Mediassociates, spoke with students about his career path and what he learned about leadership along the way. Larson discussed how his time at BC provided a strong foundation for his career. During his undergraduate years, he learned how to think contextually and communicate his thinking, and as someone who worked in marketing for over 20 years at Procter and Gamble, Subway, Stew Leonard’s, and now Mediassociates, this kind of thinking has been crucial throughout his career. Larson added that Boston College also had a strong influence on his leadership style, and that he uses many of the concepts he learned while in the Jenks Leadership Program to this day. His personal leadership style is all about creating a collaborative environment, which he does by meeting with his employees and listening to their ideas in order to send the message that he is there to make each person successful. In addition to critical thinking and leadership, Larson talked about the importance of professional relationships. He noted that maintaining relationships with mentors and the people you meet throughout your life is critical at all stages of your career.
William Taber '20, Winston Ambassador
Maintaining Jesuit ideals and adaptable skill sets
Oracle’s Northeast district sales manager, Brendan Hickey '95, talked about his career path and stressed the importance of sticking to the Jesuit morals learned at Boston College, as they will help one to develop a great reputation in the business world. Hickey noted that his reputation as an ethical leader is what makes working with others possible, and without this track record, no one would be willing to do business with him. He added that a background in sales can apply to any job, as closing deals and getting people to work with you is often the most important aspect of work. He explained that people who rely only on technical skills instead of their sales ability often are not able to rise to leadership positions because companies depend on their leaders to bring in clients. Hickey also touched on the importance of utilizing the Boston College Alumni Association network in the years after graduation. Having even a single connection, he said, will help one stand out and build relationships that serve them well as they advance through their career path. Hickey also talked about the value of having skills that are relevant in the business world even if the economy is weak, illustrating that with strong sales skills and flexibility one can always find work in a variety of jobs while others may struggle to adapt.
Christopher Murphy '20 and William Taber '20, Winston Ambassadors
Urban regeneration in Venice
Irene Chini spoke about her work in restoring Porto Marghera in Venice, Italy. Porto Marghera, located on the mainland across from Venice, was once a thriving industrial hub from the 1950s through the 1970s. Since then it has fallen into disarray as factory work moved out of the area. What has been left behind is a polluted industrial wasteland that has been forgotten by the people of Italy. Chini hopes to restore this area through environmental cleanup, attracting new businesses, and building art installations. Past attempts to transform Porto Marghera into a “Silicon Valley” of Italy yielded little results, but IT companies have recently moved back to the area and Chini is now focused on incorporating art installations in order to help the public perceive the space differently. The people of Venice often think of the area as purely derelict, but with a planned public opening featuring the work of four local artists and a rooftop party, Chini hopes to change that mindset and get Porto Marghera back on its feet. Another focus of her work is to create a new port for cruise ships at Porto Marghera as the traditional path of the ships is destroying ecosystems in and around the historical city of Venice. Chini’s talk was presented with the Joseph E. Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action.
Christopher Murphy '20 and William Taber '20, Winston Ambassadors