UCLA Anderson School of Management Blog

Lessons in Leadership

A leader must convey this to those you lead: a tough fight can bring forth Competitive Greatness. The hard battle inspires and motivates a great competitor to dig deep inside. That's why I relish the challenge a worthy competitor presents. When properly prepared you will rise to your highest level and achieve Competitive Greatness.

—Coach John Wooden

By Carolyn Gray Anderson

His renowned Pyramid of Success is used in boardrooms as well as on the court. It’s cited in articles about sports, psychology, business, education and more. Parents pin it to the walls of their children’s rooms as a source of inspiration.

From 1948 to 1975, John Wooden guided the UCLA men’s basketball team to win 10 NCAA championships in his final 12 seasons, including a record seven in a row from 1967 to 1973. The Bruins won 88 consecutive games from 1971 to 1974 and 38 consecutive NCAA tournament games from 1964 to 1974, both records. Wooden said he was most proud of UCLA’s 19 conference championships. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first of the 10 championships, a record that holds fast.

But “Coach” was a teacher first and foremost; and, from his retirement in 1975 forward, he was a prolific author and thinker. The John Wooden Global Leadership Award was established on the basis of Wooden’s achievements as a thought leader. Author of numerous books, Wooden lectured widely on leadership tenets gleaned from the simple but crucial lessons of a long and thoughtful life. In addition to unbroken records in college basketball, his legacy comprises a trove of maxims that express the humility, sagacity, respect and care with which Coach built and led teams.

Among Wooden’s many honors is the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. Enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame some 40 years ago (as a coach and, earlier, as a player), he died in 2010 at the age of 99; he would have turned 104 in October.

Tonight UCLA Anderson honors Coach Wooden on the occasion of the annual John Wooden Global Leadership Award, and bestows the 2014 award on Qualcomm Executive Chairman Dr. Paul E. Jacobs. Jacobs is the seventh recipient, joining past honorees: Howard Schultz, chairman, president and CEO of Starbucks; Kenneth Cheneault, chairman and CEO of American Express Company; Frederick Smith, president and CEO of Fedex; Peter Ueberroth, managing director at Contrarian Group; Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo; and Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. In addition, three UCLA Anderson students will be recognized as recipients of John Wooden Leadership Fellowships under the auspices of the John Wooden Global Leadership Award: Nicole áBeckett (FEMBA ’15), Derek Herrera (EMBA ’15) and Elizabeth Pratt (MBA/MPP ’16).

The event will be held at the Skirball Cultural Center, starting at 6:00 p.m. Business attire is required. For event and ticket information, contact [email protected]. Proceeds of the event fund fellowships for the three UCLA Anderson students, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership.

Qualcomm Executive Chairman Paul E. Jacobs Recognized with the 2014 John Wooden Global Leadership Award

By Carolyn Gray Anderson

One of Coach John Wooden’s aphorisms was: “A player who makes the team great is better than a great player.” Meaning, there is greatness in putting the group’s interests before personal prowess — greatness in sharing success.

On Monday, UCLA Anderson will honor Qualcomm’s Dr. Paul E. Jacobs with the annual John Wooden Global Leadership Award, which Jacobs earns because it recognizes excellence in leadership and affirms Coach Wooden’s values. A leader in the field of mobile communications for more than 25 years and a key architect of Qualcomm’s strategic vision, Jacobs spearheaded the company’s efforts to develop and commercialize mobile technology breakthroughs that have significantly contributed to the growth of both the company and the industry.

In July 2005, Paul Jacobs took the reins of Qualcomm from his father, industry pioneer Irwin Jacobs, amid some murmurings in the media and industry about whether he could handle the job. Under his leadership, the company generated four times the revenue and three times the profit from when he took over. Global employees increased from 9,300 to 31,000.

It’s fair to say that Jacobs the younger succeeded admirably.

Nicole àBeckett (FEMBA ’15), President of Mercatura Global, Champions Women’s Roles in International Trade

By Carolyn Gray Anderson

Sitting at the helm of her own international trade company, Mercatura Global, Nicole àBeckett (’15), a recipient of the 2014 John Wooden Leadership Fellowship, truly reflects the “global” in the John Wooden Global Leadership Award. The proceeds from the award dinner, which takes place on November 17, help fund the fellowship.

Before founding Mercatura, a strategic advisory firm that assists small and mid-sized businesses in growing their overseas markets, àBeckett studied in Beijing and then led strategy and development for myfab.com in Shanghai. A native Angeleno, she also served as the senior director of international trade in the administration of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and current Mayor Eric Garcetti, supporting engagement of L.A. companies in international market expansion and attracting foreign direct investment to the city, specifically through the Mayoral Trade Mission to Mexico last March.

In that role, she identified and assembled key businesses that aligned with the mission of exploring growth opportunities for telecommunications and other technologies. “Mexico is opening up its energy sector and L.A. is home to many viable tech companies and services,” àBeckett says. “So we promoted L.A. as a hub of tech innovation in clean energy.”

John Wooden Global Leadership Fellow Elizabeth Pratt (MBA/MPP ’16) Thinks Fearlessly about Service in the Wider World

After earning her B.A. at Stanford, Elizabeth Pratt (MBA/MPP ’16, far left) taught
at the parent-owned Iringa International School in Tanzania. Above, her class takes
a field trip to a local photography shop.

By Carolyn Gray Anderson

To be sure, Elizabeth Pratt (MBA/MPP ’16) is gratified to be the recipient of a 2014 John Wooden Global Leadership fellowship because of its prestige and renown; but as a sports fan and reader of Coach Wooden’s published works, she feels a special affinity for the award and its namesake. “The thing that really resonates with me about him is the ethic of service,” Pratt says. “That’s my driving force.”

When Pratt earns her combined MBA and Master of Public Policy from UCLA, she intends to apply new knowledge to the sort of community-based projects she’s always felt so passionately about. “I came to UCLA to acquire management skills and policy knowledge to complement my dedication to service,” she says.

And distinguished service it is, particularly abroad. After earning her B.A. at Stanford in 2008, Pratt taught at the Ouyang Yu Experimental Middle School in China and at the parent-owned nonprofit Iringa International School in Tanzania. She later ran a small NGO in Peru for two years and led teams of Peruvian staff and international volunteers to establish programs and partnerships across organizations. The results were more efficient and effective delivery of educational, health care and financial services to thousands of underserved citizens.

Decorated Marine Captain Derek Herrera (’15) Shares Success through Both Service and Enterprise

By Carolyn Gray Anderson

As a United States Marine, he was awarded the Bronze Star with V, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He conducted humanitarian assistance in Haiti and trained in several locations in the Middle East. Active-duty Marine Special Operations Officer Captain Derek Herrera (’15) is also CEO of an 80% military service member–owned business while finishing up his degree in UCLA Anderson’s Executive MBA program. Now, he is one of three students to receive the prestigious John Wooden Global Leadership fellowship.

You might know him best as ABC TV’s Person of the Week, honored by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Jon Stewart. Because in addition to his service, which began with his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2006, Captain Herrera is the first person in the country to purchase a personal ReWalk robotic exoskeleton — the invention that allows paraplegic people to walk, despite paralysis.

Herrera was shot by a sniper in 2012 while leading a team in combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The blow to his spine left him paralyzed below the chest. Six-foot-two and athletic, Herrera rehabilitated relatively quickly and was able to return to work as Battalion Future Operations Officer at Camp Pendleton, Calif., within half a year.

Veteran and Entrepreneur Matt Heidt ('14) Drives Change in Affordable Senior Housing

After more than 20 years in the military — a journey that took Matt Heidt (EMBA ’14) through Navy SEAL training and around the world, and that gained him the Bronze Star Medal for Valor — Heidt ventured into real estate, first in his family’s business and then by starting his own opportunity fund with the intention of adding value to properties in his hometown of San Diego. While his CV is extensive and impressive, Heidt’s ambitions are driven by the positive influence he has on others.

Heidt shared thoughts on his experiences at UCLA Anderson and how the Executive MBA program has enhanced his career goals and personal aspirations.

Tell us about your professional experience before coming to Anderson.

I served as a Navy SEAL for over 23 years, 11 of those on active duty. I’ve traveled all over the world to countries throughout Africa, Asia and South America, often providing health care services as a special operations independent duty corpsman. I had been trained to practice medicine in austere environments without supervision, and so as a part of our Foreign Internal Defense training operations with the host nation, setting up clinics and treating the local populace was a great way to develop better relationships.

After leaving the Navy in 2000, I remained in the reserves for the ensuing 12 years. In my transition from active duty I sampled quite a variety of potential careers. Initially, I began by working with the San Diego Police Department as a clinician on their Homeless Outreach Team, where I focused on performing outreach to transients with mental illness. While that was fulfilling work, it was challenging to support a young family financially. My intent was to complete my bachelor’s degree and become a Special Agent for the U.S. Customs Service, investigating narcotics along the U.S./Mexico border. As it turned out, working for the federal government again, this time as a civilian, was not the career that I was looking for, and after a couple of years it was time to move on.

In 2007 I had the opportunity to deploy to Ar Ramadi, in Al Anbar Province of Iraq, and work alongside several U.S. Special Operations units as an Advanced Special Operations intelligence operator. This was not an environment where clinics were used to assist the people, but as it turned out, we had considerable success in protecting the population and Coalition Forces, and it was not difficult to see how our actions benefited the people.

Team Anders&On Takes Deloitte Case Competition, Will Advance to Nationals In January

The fifth year annual Deloitte National Case Competition commenced on Friday, October 31 as the contending UCLA Anderson teams gathered in Korn Convocation Hall to receive their cases. Twenty-four Anderson teams compete against each vying to make the national round for scholarships, prizes, and stellar reputations. “Deloitte University,” a training facility for Deloitte Consulting, hosts the final round of the National Case Competition in Dallas, Texas in January. 

To kick off the first round, Katie Dye (’09) welcomed the student teams. While an Anderson team has yet to win the national competition, she insisted, “this year is the year” suggesting that the key to success is to “truly believe in one’s ideas.” She prompted students to enjoy the competition, to focus on their learning, and to tweet #DeloitteNCCAnderson in times of high stress. The students were given until 8:00am the next morning to submit their cases.

The teams spent Halloween night tackling a complex consulting case concerning hypothetical growth options for Smart Things, a company recently acquired by Samsung and confronting the emerging market for smart home products. After successfully submitting their cases, the teams presented their arguments before a panel of 20 judges sent from Deloitte. The four teams selected for the final round spent the afternoon vying for the judges’ favor by arguing various tactics for the company.

AnderS&On proposed that the company focus its efforts on creating a consumer ecosystem with a variety of compatible smart products. Case Busters insisted on a scalable, simple, and accessible model where smart products would be offered for free and revenue would be accumulated through data trend sales. RRPT proposed technological research to develop a smart chip, a universal component to connect any device to the smart home. Lastly, Anderson Americans proposed moving into personal healthcare.

The judges based their decision on “thoroughness and quality of presentation and innovation and defensibility of ideas” and announced team AnderS&On (pictured above) as the winner. The team members, Bryan Whitman, Kim Barger, Michael Kellagher, and Hans Mantor, will move on to the national portion of the competition. 

(Story and photos by Bijan White)

Sandeen (EMBA ’05) Named Chancellor of UW Colleges and UW-Extension

by Cheechee Lin 

UCLA Anderson Alumna Cathy A. Sandeen, Ph.D., (EMBA ’05) has been named chancellor for University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin Extension effective December 15, 2014. Sandeen has extensive experience and expertise in leading education institutions.

“It is an honor to have been selected to lead these institutions, especially at this point in time,” Sandeen says. “With their clear focus on access, opportunity, service and innovation — the embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea — I look forward to working with the faculty and staff of the Colleges and Extension, as well as President Cross and the board of regents, to support greater postsecondary attainment and economic development throughout the state of Wisconsin.”

Sandeen currently serves as the vice president for education attainment and innovation for the American Council on Education, the nation’s largest and most visible association representing all sectors of higher education. Sandeen oversees ACE’s national agenda to increase postsecondary educational attainment in the U.S., including coordination among national and international leaders from across higher education, foundations, business and government. She also is in charge of the Center for Education Attainment and Innovation, including its major grant programs, federal contracts, service activities, partnerships and development of new initiatives.

After graduating from UCLA Anderson, Sandeen was appointed dean of continuing education at UCLA Extension. She was integral in developing new academic programs, driving revenue and surplus growth despite challenging financial times, and implementing extensive outreach endeavors. She helped increase national visibility and growth in international programs. In addition, she served as vice provost and dean of University Extension and Summer Session at UCSC (2000-2006), and held various leadership positions at UCSF (1990-2000).

Sandeen succeeds Ray Cross, who has been named UW System president effective February 15, 2015. Sandeen will be the third chancellor of the two statewide institutions.