I recently participated in a series of video interviews with an innovative online service called big think www.bigthink.com. The site describes itself as "a global forum connecting people and ideas."
In a wide-ranging interview I discussed my thoughts on managing risk in an uncertain and volatile operating environment and avenues of growth in professional information businesses.
Rather than transcribe the interview here I provide a link to the video below. In addition to saving me precious typing time this referral might encourage you to explore other more worthy interviews.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Tom for Big Think. He had a lot of great insights for companies and business leaders at any time but especially in this time of economic hardship. One of the things he said that has stuck with me is that companies tend to turn inwards in a recession and that is the worst mistake they make. As he says maintaining focus on the customers in times like these is critical.
Hi Tom – I just met you briefly this morning in the lobby of TR’s Canary Wharf offices here in London…I really enjoyed your interview on Big Think and also respect your candid comments regarding managing in a downturn both from a risk as well as human resource perspective. Look forward to keeping up with the blog! Susan
Tom you only provided a link to one interview clip on bigthink.com but you actually have eight separate interview clips. Here’s all of them to help your readers. ============ Preserve Cash and Earn Profits in a Downturn Technology makes Thomson Reuters a cash-generative company according to Tom Glocer. But that doesn’t stop some recession-scarred managers from making cuts “across the board” a mistake that misdiagnoses any company’s core weaknesses. http://bigthink.com/tomglocer/preserve-cash-and-earn-profits-in-a-downturn ============ Boosting Morale During Massive Layoffs Boosting Morale During Massive Layoffs http://bigthink.com/tomglocer/boosting-morale-during-massive-layoffs Tom Glocer tells the story of having to cut 5000 people in 2001 an experience that changed his business ethos forever. He also answers the question of how businesses get too big in the first place. ============ Protecting Value in the Customer Base Protecting Value in the Customer Base Businesses Businesses come alive when I’m out with the customer and watching them interact with our products says Tom Glocer. So what else does this CEO do? Paraphrasing Albert Einstein Glocer says he tries to make processes as simple as possible but no simpler. http://bigthink.com/tomglocer/protecting-value-in-the-customer-base ============ Business: A Dirty Word in Media Tom Glocer disputes that journalism is dead. http://bigthink.com/tomglocer/business-a-dirty-word-in-media ============ The Winning Media Companies of Tomorrow Tom Glocer says the media companies of tomorrow are the ones with a lightness of technological feet. http://bigthink.com/tomglocer/the-winning-media-companies ============ Why the CEO of Thomson Reuters Tom Glocer Blogs http://bigthink.com/tomglocer/tom-glocer-blogs ============ What is Wrong with Media Today? Tom Glocer says it’s the medium that’s the issue not the message. http://bigthink.com/tomglocer/what-is-wrong-with-media-today ============ Anticipate Risks and Create New Opportunities Anticipate Risks and Create New Opportunities Citing a financial services industry that relied too much on models and algorithms and not enough on real-life experiences Tom Glocer says that he works to keep his company agile and flexible as it expands both vertically and geographically. http://bigthink.com/tomglocer/anticipate-risks-and-create-new-opportunities
Dear Tom The entire country is discussing