Kindred spirits : Harvard Business School's extraordinary class of 1949 and how they transformed American business / David Callahan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Callahan, David, 1965-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Harvard University. Graduate School of Business Administration. Class of 1949--Biography.

Harvard University.

Harvard University. Graduate School of Business Administration--Alumni and alumnae--Biography.

Harvard University. Graduate School of Business Administration.

Harvard University. Graduate School of Business Administration. Class of 1949.

Businesspeople--United States--Biography.

Businesspeople.

Alumni and alumnae.

United States.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

viii, 296 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, N.J. : J. Wiley, [2002]

Summary:

They stormed the beaches of Normandy and the islands of the South Pacific, but the exceptional generation of Americans that won World War II also produced the greatest group of business leaders of the post-war era. Harvard Business School's class of 1949 consisted mostly of military veterans who came to Cambridge thanks to the GI Bill. Molded by the hardships of depression and war, few 49ers sought fabulous wealth as an end in itself. Their conscientious leadership would forever change the course of American business. By the standards of the go-go '80s and '90s, and today's corporate scandals, the values that defined the 49ers seem quaint; that wealth is created patiently, without cutting corners; that successful companies are those that make real things of real value; that integrity is an end in itself; and that greed is not good. Those values guided the 49ers to the pinnacle of business success. Leading 49ers helped orchestrate a profound transformation of business in the decades after World War II: The rise of consumer products and services as a key engine of growth; the growing role of technology in spurring innovation and profits; and creative changes on Wall Street that leveraged wealth in extraordinary ways. From the heights of power -- 28 percent of the class retired as CEO or president of his company -- the 49ers shaped trends in nearly every sector of American business.

Based on extensive interviews with class members, Kindred Spirits profiles this amazing group of leaders in a rich and evocative narrative. Critically acclaimed author David Callahan examines the intense bonds of friendship that kept them close for half a century, and reveals their influence on the landscape of modern American business. Among the legendary figures of the Class of '49 are Marvin Traub, who turned Bloomingdale's into a fashion trendsetter; James Burke, who built Johnson & Johnson into a household name; Peter McColough, whose Xerox Corporation spearheaded the personal computer revolution; and William Ruane, who helped bring "value investing" to Wall Street, creating one of the most successful mutual funds of all time. As David Callahan explores the legacy of these visionaries in contemporary business, he draws lessons from their timeless values and exceptional leadership -- lessons to be heeded by today's troubled corporate world. A sweeping look at the changing face of American business, Kindred Spirits is more than just the story of a single class. It's a story of American innovation and reward.

Contents:

Beginnings

1. Generation GI 14

2. Kindred Spirits 28

3. A Taste of Success 41

4. The Fast Track 57

Land of Opportunity

5. Consumer Fever 76

6. Wizards of a New Way 95

7. Riding the Bull 110

Moving to the Top

8. New Heights 123

9. Empire Building 138

10. Living Dangerously 160

11. Taming the Bear 177

A Different Time

12. Wise Men 191

13. Shady Business 211

14. Taken Over 229

Epilogue: The Long Twilight 239.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-286) and index.

ISBN:

0471418196

OCLC:

50630480