KNOWLEDGE ON DEMAND
Alan Cox understands the need to deliver knowledge when and where it is needed. "When a client calls us because their plant has shut down, we're the ones that have to get it up and running again," said Cox, vice president of an industrial contracting firm that specializes in building chemical facilities and steel mills. In a very competitive business environment, knowledge is what gives his organization its edge. "We have 400 employees who are the best in their fields, from electricians to millwrights to welders and fabricators," he said. "Our strength is in our diversity."The need for new knowledge is what took him to Wharton's Executive Negotiation Workshop — and the diversity of Wharton's executive education offerings is what kept bringing him back, program after program. "As contractors, we are involved in negotiations on a daily basis," he said. "To remain a leader in our industry we have to see what's out there and to get insights into different perspectives. The interplay and discussions among classmates, some of whom were my customers, helped me see things from their point of view."
When Cox was asked to lead M. Davis' expansion into new markets by setting up a new independent business, he took Leading Organizational Change. "It helped me bring a lot of people together and to lead them in achieving our company's goals," he said. After completing his first two courses, Cox went on to enroll in for Finance and Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager, Strategic Thinking and Management for Competitive Advantage and Competitive Marketing Strategy, earning the recognition of a Certificate of Professional Development.
Each class has had a lasting impact on Cox. He and several classmates from Leading Organizational Change have continued to keep in touch by e-mail, sharing how they have used the principles from that class to grow their careers. He routinely uses techniques from his Strategic Thinking and Management class in weekly presentations. "I've been to a lot of seminars, but none of them taught me as much as I learned at Wharton," he said.
ALAN'S CPD TRACK