On "What" makes an Organization "Great"

This evening, we had dinner with a man that epitomizes all the positive traits an entrepreneur should possess in order to succeed, do good and leave a lasting impact on the world around him. This impact starts with the closest individuals to us, our family, and extends to the people upon whom we depend to make our dreams reality, the men and women that get things done and make organizations great.

Keith Molzer, the President & CEO of Balance Innovations, is one of the most respectful, humble, talented and thoughtful individuals I've had the privilige of meeting. I can only wish that each and every one of us has the opportunity to meet a Keith Molzer during their lifetime. It's a humbling experience to see a man that has achieved so much and yet still has the decency and good will to attribute the success to the people that work for him.

Great leaders demand respect in the way they carry themselves and in their daily actions and gestures. Great leaders distinguish organizations and make them Great.

Key takeaway from tonight's dinner: be involved in the day to day lives of your employees and do your best to get to know more about them and about the troubles they face. One gesture at the right time can literally secure the loyalty, passion and dedication of these individuals more than any incentive package, stock option or 6-figure compensation.

On Entrepeneurship in the MidWest US

Today was my first day of meetings in Kansas City, Missouri, a city I've come to respect and to like for the potential it has created for itself as a major innovation & entrepreneurial hub in the US and beyond.

Before arriving in Kansas City, I could not help but wonder why I was visiting a city in the middle of nowhere, except for the fact that it hosted one of the world's leading organizations on entrepreneurship, the Kauffman Foundation.

From the minute I landed in Kansas City International Airport, I started to put the pieces together and make linkages that would lead me to the answer.

To sum up my conclusion, the city has brought together several factors that I believe represent the backbone of what a city needs to become a hub for entrepreneurial ventures and compete with places like Silicon Valley and Kendall Square.

• An international airport, albeit the only international route is from KCI to Tokyo and it's cattle route (literally). Tens of flights a day leave KCI en route to Tokyo. The flight's only passengers? Cattle on their way to become a succulent piece of tender meat as part of your Kobe-centric dish somewhere in the world. Setting aside this interesting story, Kansas City has an international airport. How many cities in the middle of nowhere can claim that? I find it to be critical. Access to a place coupled with access from a place to several hubs around the world is important in the overall equation.
• High-speed internet. Of the four cities I've visited to far in the US, this place has the fastest internet I've experienced in a very long time. Access is yet again accentuated as a critical element
• Posh locations. This is one of the nicest and most aesthetically pleasing cities I've visited in the US. It has a vibrant feel to it. It possesses the colonial elegance with a modern twist. Great place to live
• Affordability. Average real estate prices are a fraction of its equivalents in the bay area, Boston and other less affordable locations
• Great public school system. This and the previous point are important elements in attracting some of the best and brightest from around the US
• Culture. They have an "Arts Incubator"!!!! One of the most interesting things I've seen in my life. An incubator that helps artists get on their feet and improve their chances of success
• Support network. This city has one of the most extensive support networks for entrepreneurs and SME's anywhere! The number of organizations and their broad scope is just mind boggling. Add to that the fact that all the resources available to entrepreneurs and SME's have been mapped and put together in a way that allows the entrepreneur to find all available resources by just going through an interactive online questionnaire.
• Much more...

And I do really mean it when I say "much" more.

This city is in my humble opinion an excellent case study just waiting for the right business school professor to analyze and write up. It started with the passion and support of one man and his family, Ewing Marion Kauffman, a self made billionaire from the generic drug industry who practically gave away his whole fortune as an endowment to an organization that I believe is at the backbone of what makes Kansas City a great city to lead the entrepreneurial path in the midwest US and beyond. The name Kauffman just keeps being mentioned time after time and one can't really neglect the clear affirmative influence this man, and his money, have had on such a budding local success story. 

And so it begins

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم


Here we go folks. Looking forward to sharing my thoughts