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What’s All The Fuss About this New Sheriff at Downing Street?

kathyrobison — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:41:09 +0000

With an British mother and an American father, comparing the US and Great Britain is simply a way a life in my family . . . plus it gives me a bit of street-cred in this department. In this story, in my opinion, the Brits clearly win!

Sunday mornings with Fareed Zakaria on CNN are sacred in my house. Which basically means that my kids and husband abandon me for that hour. More often than not, I’m highly tempted to blog about one or two of the topics Fareed covers. I typically resist, because I rarely disagree with Fareed and over time I’m afraid I might come across as a “Fareed Groupie”, which could tarnish my image of a self-thinking, intelligent, strategic, modern woman. That said, this week, I am giving into temptation. I simply must blog about this new British government and the 39-year old George Osborne (Chancellor of the Exchequer – Secretary of the Treasury to Americans) whom I found to be slightly pompous (expected), highly intelligent (expected), but unexpectedly refreshing and on-point in his ideas around what people really want from their governments. I personally, think the US Republican party could take a lot of cues from the new conservative sheriffs at Downing Street. As an Independent, I actually prefer it when both the Democrats and Republicans are acting wisely as it makes for better candidate options and more solution oriented action.

If you missed the show, it’s easy to watch or listen on demand. Just click here.

Just to add my own touch to the conversation, and keep up my image, here are the four primary reasons why I like what I heard from Osborne and feel strongly that this is the direction that successful politicians will have to take (regardless of party) to be successful in the future.

Not Afraid to Act

Osborne has pledged to the British people that he will not hide hard choices from them and he will make them. He has clearly lived up to this campaign promise with his austere budget that is getting a lot of press. He feels strongly that the public wants a government who can admit when there is a real problem, and work quickly to get it fixed.

Proper Leadership

The kicker here is their assumption that the public can and should act as an intelligent deputy to a sheriff who is willing to make and stand behind decisions regardless of which direction the political winds are blowing. This new conservative party clearly recognizes that the British public clearly understands there is a debt problem, and that the country has been living beyond its means for some time, and so they are willing to take it on as their first priority. They also realize that not only Great Britain, but Europe, requires proper leadership to bolster their image and regain the world’s confidence in their ability to pay their own way.

Collaboration is Not a Death Sentence

Osborne speaks of forming a proper coalition government where the other party holds seats in the cabinet and how the real benefits of diversity in Parliament are less about looking different and more about being different and thinking different. One of the best statements Osborne makes in Fareed’s interview is, “We can’t abandon whole areas of policy to the Left in British politics. There is no reason why the Conservative Party should not have a progressive policy on climate change or be interested in issues of poverty and equity in our society and have answers to those issues.”

Open, Open, Open

They are open to new ideas, new views and anyone who can come up with a better way to reach a common goal. Osborne indicated that he constantly seeks out second opinions and alternative views. He encourages large numbers of people to come into meetings and say what they want to say, and understands that listening is a large part of the job. His office recently asked the broader group of public servants for their ideas on how to reduce budgets in a way that doesn’t damage the frontline services people receive. They received over 65,000 responses in a couple of weeks, and had some of them around to Number 11 Downing Street for a chat recently. Interactive governement . . . what a concept!

I’ve been saying for years (just ask my friends) that the politicians in the US are simply making things worse and what most people really want is an entirely new breed of politician that is much more suited for the 21^st century. We need politicians who care less about party line and more about solving problems. We need politicians who can explain both sides of an issue, without bias, and why they believe their decision is the best option. We need politicians who can work with other politicians to get the job done and stop wasting the public’s time and money on petty politics.

As much as I love they way in which this new and refreshing British government is behaving, I would certainly caution them that the best solution in today’s environment is likely a combination of austerity in some areas and stimulus in others. Because western politicians failed to play the austerity card when times were good, we are all now stuck in a precarious position. The equation is really quite simple and it works for government, companies, and at home. When times are good you pay off your debts, make smart investments, and put a little under the mattress for a rainy day. When times are hard you dig out your mattress money and stretch on credit a little if necessary. If used responsibly, credit can be a very stabilizing element in an economy. When abused, as we all now know, credit can backfire as surely as a 1970’s MG.

One of the things I love the most about this new government is the fact that they aren’t letting fear run the show. They are taking a stance, creating a strategy, and they are willing to listen to other ideas. The longer we let fear run our households, our businesses, and our politics, the longer this era of uncertainty will linger. It really is that simple.

The Century of Women – The 21st Century

kathyrobison — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:03:27 +0000

Originally posted The Century of Women on 85 Broads – a global network of 20,000 trailblazing women who are inspired, empowered, and connected.

Last week I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Isobel Coleman, the author of Paradise Beneath Her Feet, speak at a World Affairs Council event in Dallas. Like Isobel, for most of my career I strategically avoided “feminist” issues. After all, I grew up in a family where it was just as likely for a man to have a PhD as it was for a women and both genders were scientific leaders in their industries or political leaders in their communities. I have no brothers and my parents were clear from the age of 5 that we could be anything we wanted. We all saw Billie Jean King playing her famous tennis match, but to us kids, it was just another tennis match. She was there, playing against a guy, so what exactly was all the fuss about? Now, all these years later, I can appreciate Billie Jean and those like her for the courage they shared with world and the gifts they gave to all women.

As I made my way to the C-suite of some pretty impressive firms, I came to better understand the nuances and challenges that still exist for women today in the West. I also now view Women’s Empowerment as something that goes far beyond equal pay for equal work and obtaining 50/50 gender ratios. Much of the developing world’s success hinges on the empowerment of women in regions of the world where being raped can mean a brutal public death started by your own family.

Whereas the 20th century was clearly the beginning of equality for women, and phenomenal progress was made in a very short period of time, until our sisters in the remaining two-thirds of the world can freely speak, walk, vote, learn, and work, we cannot claim victory. As an eternal optimist I see much evidence that we are nearing a tipping point of progress that could get us there by the end of the 21 Century. 90 years is a long time. This is why I believe that the 21 Century is The Century of Women.

What Business and Politics Need the Most are Intrinsic to Women

The keys to success in the 21st Century are being more efficient with our resources, including the bottom of the pyramid, and innovating our way to preserving our environment instead of depleting it. We can all be thankful to the Henry Ford’s and JP Morgan’s of the world whose heavy-handed leadership led us through the Industrial Revolution. However, the skills needed to move forward in this century are far more intrinsic to women. I am in no way saying that women should replace all men leaders, but I am saying that we could all benefit from a few more women leaders.

When employees feel a part of a team, buy into the vision, feel they are heard, and are provided the opportunity to manage themselves, productivity and creativity skyrocket. In today’s business environment, most companies run at approximately half speed when it comes to human potential, productivity, and creativity. This is not about working longer and harder with fewer breaks. It’s all about desire, value, contribution, and time for rejuvenation and creative contemplation.

The 2010 Global IBM CEO Study, recently published, indicates the most important leadership qualities required over the next 5 years are: Creativity (60%), Integrity (52%), Global Thinking (35%), Influence (30%), Openness (28%), Dedication (26%), Focus on Sustainability (26%), Humility (12%), and Fairness (12%).

The paradigm shift that is revolutionizing not only business, but global social structures is a monumental opportunity for women leaders to step up and show the world that we have the innate leadership qualities that the world needs today and the courage to use them.

The Empowerment of Women in the Developing World

If you have any doubt that the empowerment of women is happening in places like the Middle East, you need only to read Isobel Coleman’s book, Paradise Beneath Her Feet. What she rightly points out is that for sustainable progress to take hold, it must come from within. The Soviets tried to forced education on women during their decade of occupation of Afghanistan and it ended up making things worse. Now Afghan men are sighting Islamic text to spread the notion that Islam is, and always has been, a religion that serves both genders equally. This is the only way for real progress to be made, and it is happening every day in the Middle East.

I’m sure most of you have heard about the “The Girl Effect” session at the 2009 World Economic Forum by now that unexpectedly stole the show despite having the worst time slot. Lee Howell, Davos Annual Meeting Director, indicated that, “The field work, economic analysis, and experience all point to the powerful effect you’ll have if you invest in girls.”

“A simple concept whose time has finally arrived”, wrote Ashish T. Galande of World Pulse. The tide is changing, but there is much work to do. Recognition of a solution and a change in mindset are always the first steps. “Despite the overwhelming evidence that helping girls escape poverty is the key to healthy social and economic growth, only a meager 0.6% of development money goes to this demographic” (Ashish T. Galande / World Pulse).

Shear Guts and Courage are Contagious

Technological advances have given all of us the ability to share and to seek out those who inspire and motivate us. Often it helps just to remind ourselves that we are not alone in our endeavors, despite how we may sometimes feel. 50 years ago, you might go months or years without hearing or reading something purely inspirational regarding the empowerment of women, now you can immerse yourself in wonderful stories, videos and writings anytime you heart desires.

Though many in the developing world don’t have access to technology, the few that do, spread the word. Conversely, those of us who live in the West have much better access to knowledge about women in the developing world and how we can support their efforts.

Shear guts and courage are highly contagious, especially from women to women. When we see others take risk, stand up for what is right, and challenge the status quo, we are much more inclined to do it ourselves. We must continue to support each other (men and women) in all endeavors that help to raise the level of human consciousness and provide a more meaningful life for more people. When you cut to the chase, this is the deep-seated desire of most . . . it is simply a part of being human. Sometimes, however, it gets covered with a bit of dust or becomes a little rusty. I believe that the power exists within everyone to good in the world. It is simply a choice how and when we use that power.

Waking Up In Jacmel

kathyrobison — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:55:11 +0000

Just a couple of months ago Aimer Haiti and I met with Agronome Noel (“Agronomist Noel”), one of Haiti’s leading agronomists. You cannot imagine the determination and drive that this man and his wife have for their country and the need to rebuild the agricultural industry. We dreamt of the possibilities sitting around the table of an office building that was completely destroyed in the earthquake. He showed us the book that he has written on how to rebuild agriculture in Haiti. We talked about the need for a master land plan for the island. Over time, the lower flat lands that are prime for agricultural production have been used for housing and has wrecked havoc on the natural drainage ways. We talked about how important this step is, but how difficult it would be to implement since it would require huge changes. It now represents one of the hidden opportunities in the horrors of the earthquake.

After several hours of invigorating discussion, which left our minds swimming with ideas and possibilities, Agronome Noel invited us to visit his farm. Fifteen years ago, he turned his frustration with politics into action and wanted us to see first hand what he had created. So, that was that, three of us were going to Jacmel for the weekend! This was huge treat for me, as I knew that agriculture would be a large part of the success equation for Haiti. For decades, Haiti had been given the well-intended advice to buy their food on the global markets and instead build factories to manufacture clothing. That strategy failed when world food prices rose dramatically and no one was interested in building factories in a logistically difficult place like Haiti when they have options like Mexico, Brazil, India and China. It was simply bad advice that millions paid the price for. A country should be able to feed itself. It cuts the risk of being subject to the large fluctuations in world food prices, it provides jobs, and for a tropical country like Haiti it can produce significant exports. But more importantly, it provides a sense of pride and accomplishment for its people.

Agronome Noel and his wife Nani purchased 15 hectares of dried up and barren land in Jacmel 15 years ago that was considered useless, for what amounted to a few hundred dollars. He told the community he was going to grow wonderful and rich fruits and vegetables. Many laughed at him and from that point on he was known as the “crazy agronomist”. He did not mind because he knew that some years down the road he would prove his point, and he did. Though at this point, I am not sure the fate of the Agronomist and his wife. They spent most of their time during the week working in Port au Prince in order to fund their farming operation in Jacmel.

Three of us from Aimer Haiti spent a weekend with the Noels on their farm in Jacmel. We stayed in the beautiful home they have been building for 3 years that was to eventually to become their retirement home and a bed and breakfast. I suspect it is no longer standing. The 3 hour drive from Port au Prince took us on a journey through the slums where all the garbage eventually collects after the rains, over broken roadways still not completely repaired from the hurricanes, and up through a gorgeous mountainous region. Despite some barren areas, there is still enough vegetation in the mountains that you can see and feel its natural beauty. The roads in the mountains were actually quite good and we past many small farmers bundling their harvests ready for the trip down the mountains that more often than not ended in spoiled produce before it reached a market.

We arrived at the farm in Jacmel after dark. The only light we had was from the cars we were driving and a small generator powering a couple of light bulbs in the house. We sat on the porch facing the ocean enamored with just how striking the stars are when you are so close to the equator and there is very little artificial light. We drank, we ate, we laughed, and we continually talked and dreamt of the possibilities for Haiti. The energy of hope and passion was strong in the air and it felt good to me. You cannot spend time in Haiti and not fall in love with the land, the people, and its spirit. It does not matter how much other heartbreak and sadness you witness, in Haiti love always wins. I am certain this is why the Clintons have remained so committed to this tiny country after all these years.

The sun arrives early near the equator; at 5:30 am in Haiti. The breeze from the sea is not as strong as I expected. Nor is the sound of the waves crashing against the 3-meter wall of rock down to the sea just 30 yards from the back porch of this large, half finished house in Jacmel. I am a lover of all sunrises, so there was no way I was going to miss this. The sun arrived on time, but shielded for some time by a large cloud. Soon, Agronome Noel was with me preparing for the day while everyone else still slept. I heard goats on the adjacent property and asked if he had any. He pointed to one goat off in the distance tied to a rock and told me that today would be the goat’s last day. Sure enough, about an hour later he and two others went out to meet the goat. And by the end of the day, well . . . we were eating goat stew.

A ball of fire finally burst from beneath the cloud and its rays reached far and wide as we quickly move from a shadowy sunrise to the full-fledge beginning of a new day. What a peaceful and gorgeous place I had awoken to, now that I could see everything. How could anyone have ever considered this land a lost cause?

When the Noels began 15 years ago with a plot of dry barren land, there was no road, no access to water, no electricity, and no soil. For the crazy agronomist, these weren’t problems, just things to be done. On weekends and holidays, with the help of a few farm hands that live on the property, they began the transformation by hand. There are no big machines and no tractors, just simple hand tools. They trucked in water and topsoil and began to build the tree canopy. You see, first you must create enough of a canopy to cool, shelter, and nourish the soil below. Once the canopy began to work it’s magic they were able to plant the tender topical plants and fruit bearing trees. They have bananas, cocoa, coconuts, mandarins, figs, papayas, and almond trees. At least those are the ones I can remember. The barren land was transformed into a tropic forest full of agricultural treasures in a few short years.

I will never forget the day I woke up in Jacmel!

Aimer Haiti & Their Dreams

kathyrobison — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:02:33 +0000

This photo was taken just before Christmas of me and my friends at Aimer Haiti. It was the end of a busy week of planning, dreaming, and believing in what Haiti can be one day when we all work together. I have not been able to reach any of them and pray that they and all of their loved ones survived.

I can see the shanty towns on the hillside of Port-au-Prince in my mind as if I were standing there right now and know the outcome for many will not be good after the earthquake shook a city already in pain to its knees today.

I have spent the last 4 months working with a group of business men and women in Haiti who have seen enough disappointment and suffering and are willing to do whatever it takes to show the rest of the world that it is not to late for Haiti. They have a dream for their country and they are determined more than any other people I have ever met to see that dream come true. Their country is beautiful, its people are kind, and its potential is off the charts.

We are working on economic and agricultural development and devising new models that would let us use this one country and the momentum their government, the UN, President Clinton, and my friends at Aimer-Haiti have recently created to let it mark a new beginning for global economic development. Despite this tragedy, it can still be done.

What everyone needs to know is that just because they have now experienced what appears to be massive devastation, we cannot give up on the dreams that both local Haitians and those living abroad still have for their country. In fact we must use this tragedy to awaken the rest of the world to the story of Haiti. Haitians have more spirit and more strength than you can imagine and they will not let this beat them. What Haiti needs, and what Aimer Haiti is organized around, is economic development and the building of a true middle class. Haiti will need immediate aid for sure, but they also need long term development aid so they can eventually find their own way and loose the title of the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

If you want to help please do two things: One you can give to Yéle Haiti donations that will be used for immediate relief. Yéle Haiti is a non-profit that did amazing work after the devastating hurricanes in 2008. Grammy-Award winning musician, humanitarian and Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti Wyclef Jean founded Yéle Haiti in 2005.

Two, you can provide donations to AimerHaiti that will be used to ensure that focus remains on economic development after the period of immediate aid is past. Long-term development is the real lifeline that will ensure everyone in Haiti has an opportunity to earn a decent wage and take care of his or her loved ones. If you are interested in helping this organization, please contact me directly.

There is much we are planning as far as creating new and innovative ways of using international aid and government support to promote private investment. Alignment and partnerships can be created between local governments, private domestic investors, private foreign investors and foreign aid such that all are moving in the same direction. Aid can be used to incentivize and guarantee investment that will create sustainable progress instead of being primarily used to shore up faltering national balance sheets and lining the pockets of a few.

We are going to insist that when it comes to the developing world:

We must change the focus from problems to opportunities
We must take more action and do less analysis
We must build-up and exploit what each country has to offer
We must reinvigorate the dreams of people all around the world
We must let the world participate in it’s own rebuilding

Please don’t give up on Haiti, there is still a chance to rebuild; and rebuild something far better than what exists today. Haiti is a beautiful country that has much to offer the world. We have an opportunity to show that the world together can develop a small country into a productive nation that can in turn help others. We simply must be smart about how things are rebuilt, create partnerships that last, and align all parties in the same direction.

Mississippi Wellness

kathyrobison — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:46:08 +0000

Until now, my business trips have taken me to London, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Seoul, Frankfurt, Munich, and Paris, the glitzy global seats of corporate power. Last week I found myself driving to rural Greenville, Mississippi to meet a group of folks from the Delta Citizens Alliance. On the 9-hour drive, when I was wondering what in the world I was doing, I reminded myself that this is the time for me to give back. It’s time for me to apply what I have learned in my 20 years in business and lend a hand. What I found is that I had a lot to learn from the most courageous group of people I ever had the fortune of meeting. More powerful than any group of business leaders I have ever met, simply because they know they can make a difference in the world.

This was a group of very busy people. They run non-profit organizations that target the youth, they are consultants to non-profits writing grants and getting through the red tape, sociology professors, and community activists. These are the movers and shakers of the Mississippi Delta. Some had high school diplomas and others had PhD’s. We were white, black, and brown. We were all the same, in our hearts, and we were all there to ask a hard question that few are willing to ask.

No one was afraid to ask the question, and everyone was ready to receive the answer, no matter where it pointed. No one squirmed in their seat or tried to deflect. No one was trying to be a victim and point the finger elsewhere. Everyone was ready to take full responsibility, even when the answer pointed back at all of us.

The question we were there to explore was, “Why, after all the money spent and all the programs implemented, is the Mississippi Delta still so void of hope and prosperity?” It takes a lot of courage sometimes just to ask the right question. This group was also determined to find the right answer and get on with doing something about it.

They all share the dream of seeing the Delta turnaround, and become an shining example of what can be achieved when people are willing to love and care for themselves and others. They can visualize their hometowns full of healthy, beautiful and happy kids playing on the streets without drug dealers on the corners. They can see the houses and yards cared for and manicured and neighbors greeting each other on the sidewalks. They can see the old abandoned school down the road revitalized and brimming with squirming, learning children once again. They can see young adults in local colleges and new shops and businesses opening up every year. They have a tremendous dream!

We asked why the community colleges weren’t full when scholarships and transportation were readily available. We asked if towns were really ready to work on race relations when turf wars prevented people from getting in the room together to just start a discussion. What was amazing, and a real testament to the validity of the concepts we were discussing, was how quickly everyone came to the same answer. They may have said it in a slightly different way, but the answers were all the same, and we all knew without a doubt that they were true.

The Center for Sustainable Change, an organization out of Northern California that has had tremendous success facilitating the turnaround of some of the most hopeless communities in the US, was there to share the 3 Principles of Psychology and how they promote positive change. Three simple principles that help individuals form an understanding of how we create our own realities (good or bad) through our own thoughts. External circumstances are simply challenges to address and “things” in life to deal with, but they do not create our mental reality. We create our reality in our own heads, one thought at a time. Once you give yourself permission to question your thoughts and choose to dismiss the ones that are not helpful to achieving your goals, the possibilities become endless.

Our collective answer to the hard questions was this: programs unfurled and money spent weren’t working because (1) the people they were designed to help had little or no say in what they truly needed, so community residents had no investment in the outcome, and (2) until we take time to focus on the innate well-being and wisdom that exists in all of us, it will remain difficult for people to see a different reality and work together for change in the Delta. These are simple truths, but according to this group of warriors, they hold the key to success in the Delta.

The Delta Citizens Alliance in conjunction with the Center for Sustainable Change have established a steering committee (of which I am honored to be a member) to start conversations with the communities of the Mississippi Delta about innate mental health and the 3 principles. With a renewed sense of hope, positivity, creativity and well-being, these communities will no-doubt create their own successes.

If you belong to a business organization that is jumping onto the band-wagon of corporate social responsibility, I would encourage you to consider supporting the work that is happening in the Delta. Communities and businesses can accomplish twice as much if they work together. And when the status-quo “thought box” is opened and “out of the box” thinking jumps out, the possibilities for win-win collaborations are boundless.