"What's in the World of the Entrepreneur?"
Discussion led by: Deborah Ferro Burke, Ph.D., Berkshire Institute for Action Learning and William Polk, Business Advisory Services
Entrepreneurs make the news for developing new products, and sometimes new industries. “Entrepreneurship” is a college major, and a career path. Entrepreneurs are coached, financed and incubated. They lead the way in technical innovation and social responsibility. They embody change, they induce change around them.
Or do they? Who are entrepreneurs, across the US and in the Capital District? What makes them tick? What makes them prosper? What opportunities do their efforts present to consultants?
This program will examine some popular forms of entrepreneurship, and the efforts that make them successful. Debbie and Bill will moderate, and will invite Consulting Alliance members and guests to share what they know about entrepreneurs. As a result of the program, participants should have a better idea of how to spot potential clients among entrepreneurs, and to provide services they need.
William Polk has had management responsibility over as many as 350 employees and has held President or senior officer positions in every organization where employed. He brings 25 years of experience working directly for financial institutions and over 15 years in consulting. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics, an Executive MBA from the University of New Haven and is an honors graduate of the Center for Financial Studies at Fairfield University. He is recognized as an Advanced Toastmaster by Toastmasters International. He assists clients in the development or updating of their business plans. He currently lectures in business financial planning topics for a regional Entrepreneurial program, and has been a guest lecturer at Union College in Schenectady, NY.
Debbie Ferro Burke’s 20-year consulting career focuses on leadership, organization culture, and high-stakes decision-making. She maintains long-term consulting relationships with GE and global automobile, industrial and insurance companies; privately held technical companies, universities, and non-profits. She also coaches executives and entrepreneurs. In her GE career, Debbie developed and delivered the innovative Corporate Entry Leadership Conference II at Crotonville. She also conducted two business-wide organization effectiveness evaluations, and initiated Work-Out in the then-$15-billion global GE Energy businesses. Debbie was Associate Professor at the Lally School of Management and Technology at RPI, and taught in the China program at the Levin Institute (SUNY). She is an advisor to the Gordon Leadership Program at MIT, and various women’s leadership programs at the Simmons College Graduate School of Management, and at her alma mater, Smith College. Debbie’s MBA is from Columbia. Her Ph.D. research looks for interrelationships between management scholarship and business practice. Her pro bono work focuses on adult literacy and affordable housing.
Members pay $15; Late Registrants & Non-Members $20. A business dress code and reservations are required. Online payment is preferred.