Lawrence Scholars in Business sponsor summit featuring Kraemer ’77

The Lawrence Scholars in
Business program hosted distinguished
alumnus Harry M. Jansen
Kraemer ’77 for a lecture on business
ethics and leadership Saturday,
Nov. 7. The event coincided with
the selection of two Lawrence students,
sophomore Katelin Richter
and junior Syed Abbas, as this year’s
Lawrence Scholars in Business.
The Lawrence Scholars in
Business program was founded last
year by Robert Perille ’80. According
to Assistant Professor of Economics
Adam Galambos, the faculty coordinator
for the program, it “brings very
successful alumni in business fields
to campus to talk to students about
perspectives on these careers. [These
alumni] bring firsthand experience
to students to teach them about
these careers.”
The program also selects two
students each year from a pool of
applicants to receive a $500 scholarship
to further their education or
future prospects in business.
Abbas, who plans to pursue a
career in management consulting,
said, “Because I am an international
student, job opportunities … are particularly
limited. So this is a very
convenient path for me to go down.”
Richter, who is interested in arts
management, echoed the statement,
saying, “It opens up a huge number
of possibilities for me.”
Any student who displays an
interest in a business-related career
can apply for the scholarship.
Galambos said that the primary criteria
are “academic excellence and
strong leadership in extracurricular
activities.”
“Aspirations, sophistication and
an interest in some business-related
career” were also important selection
criteria, Galambos said.
Kraemer is the former CEO of
Baxter Healthcare Corporation and is
a current professor at Northwestern’s
Kellogg School of Management, and
is also the chair of the board of
trustees at Lawrence. Kraemer spoke
for about an hour, focusing on leadership
and on how the application
of sound leadership principles leads
directly into sound ethical practices
in business.
Galambos introduced Kraemer,
saying, “When Harry Kraemer speaks
about business ethics, he speaks
from experience,” adding that in his
work with Baxter Corporation, he
was often faced with difficult decisions
and was esteemed for his continual
dedication to ethical practice.
“I’m very honored to be here,”
Kraemer said before launching into
the lecture. He focused on two sets
of four characteristics, which together
were his keys to being a successful
leader.
He began with the keys to being
successful in business leadership:
“Keep it simple, think in terms of
common sense, start your business
as soon as possible and realize that
leadership is a life-long journey.”
These were followed by the qualities
that made a person capable of
good leadership: “self-reflection, balance,
true self-confidence and genuine
humility.”
Throughout the lecture, Kraemer
emphasized the importance of leadership
outside the business world,
and he concluded by saying, “No
matter how much natural talent you
have, if you’re focused on [leading
effectively] and you continue learning,
you can be better and better.”
The next event hosted by the
Lawrence Scholars in Business will
be a lecture on management consultation
Jan. 23, 2010. Galambos urged
students to attend, saying, “I would
like to encourage students to come
to these events, because they are for
you. Each of these events provides
a really unique opportunity to learn
about these careers from people who
have gone through them.