Kraft Analytics CEO Jessica Gelman On Creating Your Own Luck
Jessica Gelman grew up idolizing Michael Jordan not only for the skills and leadership he demonstrated as a member of the Chicago Bulls, but also for his ability to be at his best during high pressure situations.
While many people might have contented themselves with being a fan of the greatest of all time Jordan, Gelman devoted herself to learning from Jordan so she too could learn how to succeed under pressure. The journey took her to Harvard where she played point guard, breaking scoring and assist records and captaining the Crimson to become the first team to go undefeated in Ivy League competition.
It also took her to Harvard Business School where she took on a business development project for New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Gelman so wowed her “client” that the Kraft family hired her into their organization. Today, she holds the title of CEO of the Kraft Analytics Group and, she says, is proud to be counted among that rare breed who is “not only a female CEO, but a female CEO of an organization devoted to sports, technology and analytics!”
Gelman offers listeners a number of tips for making their own luck. These include:
• Creating pressure situations in practice or your daily work to help your team perform better when the chips are down,
• Basing feedback on the “kind hard truth” to improve performance rather than calling out failure,
• Building camaraderie among your teammates to take pressure off of individuals, and
• Turning a “lucky” opportunity into a commitment to set yourself apart from the competition.
Whether or not you’re a fan of the Chicago Bulls and the New England Patriots, we hope you’ll seize this opportunity to learn from the extraordinary Jessica Gelman.
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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.
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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.
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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.
