Leonard Schlesinger’s career shows a pattern. Teach—apply—then do it again. He's taught on the business faculties of Harvard Business School and Brown University. He's applied what he's taught in senior executive positions at Limited Brands and Au Bon Pain. He's now the new president of Babson College.
Your business/academic background is unique.
Do you have a unique insight to share as a result?
I've cut across corporate and academic pursuits with increasing responsibility in both areas. I now believe I'm capable of bringing general management skills to a faculty-centric environment in ways that advance the educational and organizational mission of the institution.
Are you good at talent management?
Yes. Career progress brings the realization that almost all the success of an organization is due to talent management.
Will your expertise at talent management help Babson
deliver value?
My job is to gather great students, great staff and faculty to make beautiful music. That's the essence of college leadership.
What value will the American consumer want from a college
or university in the 21st century?
It varies by constituency. Our obligation is to make sure we have a match between each person making the investment and the value delivered. For some, it's entirely a job ticket. For some it's the joy of learning. For others it's admission to a social network. For many it's a combination. As a small business college serving a niche, that task is easier for us than it might be for any university.
How are retail merchants and colleges similar?
They are both critically dependent on the skills of highly qualified people that are in short supply. Retail merchants have folks who perceive consumer trends, often months in advance. A competent faculty member in an academic institution will provide learning that students will need and use for a lifetime.
How do retail merchants and colleges differ?
Retail merchants serve customers. Colleges partner with students. You don't flunk your customer. The natural link of the consumer proposition ends at the classroom door. To treat them as customers inside the classroom degrades the teaching/learning process.
Where did your children attend?
My wife and I have three daughters. Our oldest, Rebecca, attended Vassar undergrad, Bank Street College of Education, and is now pursuing a second masters degree at DePaul. Our middle child Emily attended Brown and has a law degree from Vanderbilt. Our youngest, Katy, has an undergraduate degree from Swarthmore and is currently finishing her doctorate in astronomy at Ohio State.
Who paid and who’s benefiting?
My wife and I paid. Our kids are benefiting. And we hope the world benefits.
To be continued
