Harley rolls into Ross recruiting

Like most of the MBA2s, I have been doing the nightly Corporate Presentation Tour and usually these things are pretty much the same old song and dance. A recent hire or big wig will speak to the corporate success in business formal attire and maybe a handful of employees will be on hand in support. When Harley-Davidson rolled into Ross on Wednesday, October 3rd, the tour standards were tossed out the proverbial window.

Harley was recruiting MBA2s for their Leadership Development Program and they arrived in style and on their own two wheels. Each of the three employees from Harley-Davidson Corporate and the seven or so on hand from American Harley-Davidson, the local H-D store on Jackson Road in Ann Arbor, rode to Ross on Harleys and parked them on display in front of the school. There was no mistaking this presentation with the others going on that evening, as all Harley people were "dressed to ride." I don't think Wyly has ever seen more piercings or leather, than it did that night. Overall, the one point that really stood out was the Harley-Davidson culture, or "kindred spirits," as it was referred to.

Most companies speak about their camaraderie as though they are family, but the Harley family, or maybe I should call them a "motley crew," seemed to ring true. I have been attending most of transportation related corporate presentations and this was the first instance that I have seen non-corporate employees in the audience just in support of the corporate guys. If the auto companies could leverage their dealerships like this, I don't think they would be in nearly the trouble they are in today. And it was this attendance by the local dealership, which made Harley's inclusive family appear a bit more genuine than the others.

If you were not swayed by the tight knit corporate culture, then, Harley's financials would most likely entice any Ross grad to trade in their Hickey Freeman for some Harley Leathers. In 2006, Harley's Net Income topped $1 billion with net revenue of $5.8 billion. Additionally, Harley has enjoyed 22 years of record sales and has had steady sales growth from 1996-2006. My favorite fun fact from the presentation related to their stock price. If you had invested $100 in H-D stock at the end of 1986 or in the S&P 500, the investment in Harley would be worth over $23,000 today, while the S&P 500 investment would be worth about $930. And, if you consider that Harley is not even a major player outside the US, (BMW is the largest selling motorcycle brand in Europe by a large margin) then Harley-Davidson appears to be poised for much more growth in the coming years.

After the presentation, Harley invited everyone to Rush Street to relax and enjoy food and drinks. Thanks to some nice pre-planning from Joi Pratt and the Luxury Goods and Retail Club, Harley was able to line their bikes on Main Street in front of Rush Street for all to see. Being a marketing person, I really liked the closeness everyone had to the product, and given the relaxed corporate presentation, I can only imagine what the interviews will be like.