Former General Electric CEO Jack Welch to Speak on Leadership

Former GE CEO Jack Welch was cited in 1,812 articles last year-and impressive statistic for a "retired" executive. On Thursday, April 14, Jack Welch is scheduled to spend two and one half hours with the Ross School of Business community (from 4:30 to 7 pm). According to Professor Noel Tichy, who has played a significant role in arranging the visit, the meeting "will be a dialogue...and [Mr. Welch] will talk about all aspects of leadership."

The guest lecture coincides with the release of Welch's new book, "Winning," which Newsweek describes as, "a 372-page management book that's everything Welch's first tome wasn't: smart, practical and not afraid to address tough subjects. Designed as a comprehensive instruction manual for corporate climbers, "Winning" describes his rules on leadership" and other topics.



A major discussion in Welch's book addresses an issue that many MBA students will face: how to move from the role of individual contributor to that of manager. As Welch says in a Newsweek interview, "One day, you become a leader. On Monday, you're talking and laughing with colleagues about life and work, and gossiping about how stupid management can be. Then on Tuesday, you are management. You're a boss. Suddenly, everything feels different-because it is different. Leadership requires distinct behaviors and attitudes, and for many people, they debut with the job....When you are an individual contributor, you try to have all the answers. When you are a leader, your job is to have all the questions."

Other topics covered in Mr. Welch's book include hiring and firing, making unpopular decisions, and managing the work-life balance.

On the latter topic, Welch takes a more candid position than many MBAs may expect based upon company recruiting presentations.

He says, "There's lip service about work-life balance, and then there's reality. To make the choices and take the actions that ultimately make sense for you, you need to understand that reality: your boss's top priority is competitiveness. Of course he wants you to be happy, but only inasmuch as it helps the company win. In fact, if he is doing his job right, he is making your job so exciting that your personal life becomes a less compelling draw."

While writing and publishing "Winning" has consumed a significant portion of Welch's time, he has also taken significant interest in several other projects. One of the projects, the NYC Leadership Academy, is focused on improving the public school system in New York City. The Academy aims to revitalize the school system by "building a team of 1,300 great principals who are true instructional leaders, who can inspire and lead teachers, students, and parents in their school community," according to the organization's website.

Other projects occupying Mr. Welch's time include independent consulting, advising buyout firm Clayton Dubilier, and traveling the globe for speaking engagements.