Tony Griffiths spoke to Carleton students about the future of business and his experience being a CEO at the annual CXO Lecture on Jan. 14.
“The main purpose of the CXO lecture series is to bring the outside community into the school to have closer contact, particularly with the focus of our MBA students to have a greater contact with the external community,” said Linda Schweitzer, associate dean of Sprott School of Business’ MBA program.
Schweitzer said the lecture series has a specific set of expectations for its speakers.
“We’re looking at our community leaders. CXO — the ‘x’ means for CEO, COO, CIO, any position of somebody running, involved in the high-level running of an organization of any kind. That way we will have our MBA students have a closer connection to what they may aspire to one day.”
Griffiths, the former CEO of the Mitel Corporation and the second speaker of the 2012-2013 series, was described as “a veteran corporate executive and director” by Jerry Tomberlin, the dean of the Sprott School of Business.
Tomberlin described Griffiths’ new book, Corporate Catalyst as “required reading for anybody who is interested in the study of business.”
Griffiths kept his lecture open to questions and comments, giving it a light and conversational atmosphere.
“I don’t have a package to deliver,” Griffiths said. “I view this as a two-way event.”
Griffiths has a reputation for helming failing corporations back to success.
“I gradually developed an expertise for taking a situation that’s in trouble and re-structuring it,” he said.
Griffiths’ talk highlighted some of the material present in his book. The book focuses on his experiences in business, although touches on his personal life, especially his childhood, which he mentioned several times in his lecture.
With lessons that were often sentimental, and after describing legal troubles with businesses, Griffiths said that during difficult times, he tries to maintain his sense of humour.
“Sometimes it’s gotten me into trouble,” he said.
The ongoing lecture series is aimed at providing opportunities for MBA students at Carleton.
Griffiths commented on the future of business towards the lecture’s conclusion.
“When I went to business school, there were no women in business. None. And women are smarter than men, whether you like it or not, and there will come a time when there will be more women on board than men.”
