R.R. Donnelly, a 150-year old print, digital and supply-solutions company, which “has survived the telephone, the telegraph, the radio [and] the TV,” has had to consider inversion as a strategy, given that 26 percent of its revenue comes from outside the U.S., said CEO Tom Quinlan. “We work for the shareholders. There are rules that we’ve [been] given that we play within. Those are the rules. We’re not going outside the rules. The tax code needs to be changed.”
Participants also agreed that, taxes aside, lawmakers of both parties and heads of businesses have to start working in partnership to make the U.S. a friendlier place for business. “We need to stop fighting,” said Gregory Cappelli, CEO of the Apollo Education Group, “because if we put our heads together, we could be a much more formidable force.” It’s a problem, he added, that other countries continue to court business much more aggressively. “There’s something wrong with dozens of other governments saying, ‘Come in and make investments. Build our infrastructure. Put in technology. Put it online. We’ll help you. Educate our people.’ Our government isn’t saying that.”
The country may have to wait for the next generation to take the helm, suggested Tom Harrison, chairman emeritus of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group. “The Millennials are a very collaborative group of individuals. They are very co-creative, they are very digitally hooked up and they are very participatory. When we get a Millennial, or Millennials, beginning to run the country and run the government, I think we’re going to have a much more collaborative, open-minded participant of government that we’re not going to get to with anybody [who] now walks the halls of Washington.”
Despite the challenges of cronyism and a hyperregulated, overtaxed climate, participants agreed that the fundamentals of U.S. capitalism will prevail. “Things actually do work in this country,” Wilderotter said. “That’s why we are still muddling along. I mean, we are talking about some fairly major issues here. I think the resilience of business in this country is [that] we go make it work no matter what we’re faced with.”
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
