David Itskowitch’s Post

Kudos Columbia Business School, Columbia University, and Dean Costis Maglaras on the new talent. I’m so overdue to reengage the faculty on being a visiting speaker at my alma mater as I am at several other universities. The pandemic had foiled our 2019 plans. Innovation, entrepreneurship, and the all-encompassing era of artificial intelligence (plus their social & political impact) should be CBS’ differential advantages over others in this decade and ahead, IMHO.

The legacies and life-long gifts of a liberal arts education as seen through the life of Paul Giamatti? As the celebrated actor, Paul Giamatti, is again in the limelight, it is worth considering his auspicious background in liberal arts education. Paul, a liberal arts graduate of Yale University, is the son of the youngest ever president of Yale, and later commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bart Giamatti. Bart extolled the virtues of liberal education thusly: 'A liberal education is defined by the attitude of the mind toward the knowledge the mind explores and creates. Such education occurs when you pursue knowledge because you are motivated to experience and absorb what comes of thinking . . . [It] embraces physics and well as French, lasers as well as literature, social science, and physical and biological sciences as well as the arts and humanities. A liberal education rests on the supposition that our humanity is enriched by the pursuit of learning for its own sake.' See more here: https://lnkd.in/gMTyEww2

‼️Must contact university donors‼️ Urgent Call to Action: Ensuring Safety and Fairness for Jewish Students Dear Esteemed Donors, I am writing today to address a matter of great importance and urgency within our university community. There are significant concerns regarding the safety and well-being of our Jewish students. As members of an academic institution that prides itself on diversity and inclusivity, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every student feels safe, respected, and valued. However, recent incidents and policies suggest a disheartening disparity between our university's actions and its professed values. Education is not just about acquiring knowledge; it's about building a community where every individual, regardless of their background, can thrive without fear or prejudice. We urge all stakeholders, especially our donors and administration, to re-evaluate where and how their contributions are being utilized. It is imperative that we redirect our focus and resources towards creating a safer and more inclusive environment for all students. As a community, we cannot afford to be passive. Together, we can make a difference. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Position/Relation to the University]

It's one thing for a story like this to run in The Chronicle of Higher Education or Inside Higher Ed, but quite another when The Washington Post raises the issue of who wants to be a #college president. The public flogging that the presidents of Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology had last month has piqued public curiosity in the people who serve as presidents today and the challenges that they face in doing the job. #highereducation #highered #highereducationleadership #collegesanduniversities #publicgood

Teaching Through Tumult: How University Leaders Must Balance the Right to Free Speech with the Right to Be Safe    I can only imagine the frustration parents must feel after investing so heavily in their children's education, only to witness—likely from afar—their experience being violently disrupted by radical extremist behavior at prestigious universities across the U.S. This includes institutions like Fordham University, UCLA, the University of Florida, the University of Southern California, and Columbia University, among several others. On May 6th, Columbia University announced that, due to ongoing protests and violence, they would cancel their main commencement for smaller, department-specific ceremonies.    🎙️ University of Florida president Ben Sasse's excellent opinion piece in the May 3rd The Wall Street Journal, “The Adults Are Still in Charge at the University of Florida: Higher Education Isn’t Daycare,” articulates what many should have expressed, yet few have had the courage to say.    In the face of these challenges, university leaders must uphold free speech while ensuring student safety, and President Sasse's emphasis on distinguishing between free speech and harmful actions is crucial for fostering debate while ensuring safety and respect. As business leaders, we face challenges balancing differing perspectives while keeping the organization cohesive. During post-merger integrations or realignments, it’s crucial to have an "adult in the room" to guide teams through conflicting cultures and priorities.    📚 Finally, I echo President Sasse’s call for real education. Today, cultivating intellectual humility and curiosity are crucial. Challenging students to think critically, understand historical complexities, and respect differing viewpoints are invaluable skills graduates should have before entering our ever-more diverse and dynamic world. In business, too, these skills are key for navigating complex organizational changes and driving innovation.    🤔 University protests are far from new. Were you ever on a campus where political demonstrations occurred? How did your school reestablish genuine learning?    #Education #Leadership #Strategy 

Sergei Guriev has been appointed as the new Dean of London Business School. Some people say "it's an interesting choice" given "the context". For the segment of the business community of Russian origin currently working abroad, this news is incredibly important. Many of my friends (including myself) 'relocated' (I would call it something else, but whatever) almost two years ago. Many others are still relocating or planning to do so. In private conversations with my Russian friends, I have often heard the following concerns: > 'Don't you find that your colleagues in Western Europe have more cutting-edge experience? It's very unlikely you can compete with them.' > 'Don't they work faster and smarter?' > 'Are you sure your experience, mainly accumulated working in Russia and the CIS region, can bring value?' > 'How are you perceived in Western Europe being Russian?' All of these concerns prevent people from even attempting to compete in a new geographical market. The context of the last two years doesn't make it any easier to succeed in this 'job market entry' exercise. I still remember my first job interview in the initial months of my MBA journey. It was with Amazon, and the hiring manager was of Polish origin (well, historically, we are not the best neighbors). Six months since the war started. My personal decisions directly affected my professional career. Should I mention it in the interview? Would it be appropriate? What if the hiring manager also wants to ask about it but doesn't know how? Professionalism unites. This is what I appreciate about the business world. If your personal values align, and you can bring value to each other professionally, all other aspects are not a problem. And Guriev's appointment is a case in point.

Yale University is one of the universities that I recommend to people who aspire to lead in the future world. This recommendation is based not only on its leadership programs but also on several other factors often overlooked by top universities. These factors include the profound societal impact that Yale attendees can make through meaningful change. #world #leadership #university #students #job #innovation

“TIME and Statista looked at the resumes of 2,000 top leaders in the country to see where they earned their degrees. The analysis included politicians, CEOs, union leaders, Nobel winners and more across various sectors. Notably, the research found many schools to make the list featured exceptional business and law programs, two areas where UT shines. The McCombs School of Business (No. 20 in U.S. World News & Report) and the School of Law (No. 16 in U.S. News & World Report) were listed as strong programs under the University’s inclusion on the list. The ranking notes “what distinguishes these schools, experts say, is not necessarily that they teach students to be better leaders, but that alums receive more opportunities, and many companies have a vested interested in hiring them. Whatever a student may have learned at school, an elite diploma signals at least two things to prospective employers: survival of a difficult admissions process and a high likelihood of intelligence.”

All institutions have a mission and the role of a #Provost is to support academic activity—research, teaching, service, etc. that supports that mission. Public statements about the facts of the human condition, however politicized they appear or become, should be made by provosts when they impact academic freedom, tech innovation, scientific discovery, and the various agendas carried out by a global force like GA Tech. Although I appreciate him opening himself up to public comment about his silence to this point, I urge anyone to consider how him seeking opinion this way—when he has access to PR, Marketing, and Communications folks that could assist with the way he frames his public communication—is an intellectual drain of the hivemind, many of whom will supply an opinion that he will use for free without attribution, in the fear and comfort of his position and salary. Does he really care about protecting and generating as much space for knowledge-making as possible? Does he really believe that learning and doing are apolitical, asocial, neutral processes? Speaking is hardly enough anyway because I’d rather a person not say anything if their actions do not reflect their convictions. He could begin by placing his personal moral crisis into direct conversation with those he leads. He could begin by examining the culture of Science, Tech, and Society (#STS) at GA Tech and supporting the hiring needs that support its further development. That is one of so many bare minimums. Tons of #crisismanagement entry points to tackle here.

At some point, each person in academia with leadership aspirations or who holds a leadership position must decide how they want to move in life. I often tell my clients that leadership is about staying true to your calling and to your values as you bring who you are to a workplace. I get numerous requests to apply to senior administrative positions at universities around the U.S., but moving into those positions at this point in my life doesn't feel right. Why? I know I'll have to choose between who I was created to be (i.e., a justice warrior) or a conformist to institutions that don't always protect those who expect to be treated with dignity and care. I will choose my calling every time, even if it means I one day leave academia. My head cannot hit a pillow every day knowing someone feels less than. I can no longer sit in any senior administrative position that upholds oppressive policies that profess that some people are more deserving of opportunities or are more valued than others despite documented discrimination and hate happening against marginalized people in higher education. This is a moral issue that's bigger than any endowment or law. Silence is life or death for many, and it's time for people in power to speak up and out against injustices or wait for the masses to overturn the very systems that refuse to protect and promote the U.S.'s declaration of justice for all. Instead of waiting for organizations to do right as people are professionally slaughtered, I'm offering services to people who want to live authentic lives as they work in systems that suppress their voices and the voices of people around them. DM me or check out my #StopPlayingDiversity podcast to learn more about how to be courageous at work. It's time for disruptive, out-of-the-box higher education leadership. https://lnkd.in/e_44VSKJ