A friendly chat across the pond goes global

On 10/19/09, The Financial Times published a special business education edition on Executive MBA Programs. The lead article, Applicants Flock to the Global Village, featured quotes from Vince Frillici, OneMBA 2010, and Peter Brews, OneMBA Associate Dean.

When Brigitta Theleman, OneMBA Program Director, asked if I would give a short interview to the Financial Times, I quickly agreed. Who wouldn’t want to share their thoughts with a global media publication?

The call from the London reporter came in the middle of a normal busy workday full of other calls and teleconferences. At first it seemed like any other client call.

But about half way in, I realized some of the “thoughts” I was sharing really were likely to end up word-for-word in print. I realized I should make sure I shared some concise comments and remembered how reporters like to hear real world examples. We had a great chat for about 20 minutes before we signed off, and I went on to the next call of the day.

I was surprised to learn than the story was on the cover of the Financial Times special EMBA section — and that my “free thinking” quote ended up as the story’s lead. I was also taken aback when a colleague of mine emailed me to inform me that a number of people from the Middle East approached him at a conference they were attending in London to show him the article. It is truly a global village!