My Inspirational Teacher: by former Accenture Executive Chairman William D. Green
This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post on September 25, 2012.
Charlie Kramer taught me when I was 19 years old. His subject was economics 国产视频 and that is an incredibly hard subject to teach a 19-year-old. To teach a 59-year-old would still be hard! I was at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, and it was the first time I had dipped my toe into higher education. All through school I had been a particularly challenged student 国产视频 nervous and distracted 国产视频 and so I didn国产视频檛 have very high expectations when I arrived.
But Charlie Kramer understood the magic formula 国产视频 educate, energise and inspire. What made him different than any teacher I国产视频檝e had in my life was that he inspired me to want to learn, to like learning, to find information fascinating and to connect it to the real world.
After my weak showing in high school, I took what today they call a gap year, but in those days we called it 国产视频渇inding yourself国产视频. I then had the choice of becoming a plumber 国产视频 the family business 国产视频 or college. My dad said: 国产视频淲hy don国产视频檛 you try that college thing?国产视频
To this day I thank Charlie Kramer for building my self-confidence and self-esteem, making me see that I could in fact do well, and learn, and grow. I went on from Dean to Babson for a bachelors and a masters degree, joined Accenture, and 35 years later I国产视频檓 still here国产视频 I give the man 国产视频 and the institution 国产视频 all the credit. I am also grateful to our community college system which plays a key 国产视频 and often under-valued 国产视频 role in helping millions continue their education and develop the skills required for the jobs most in demand.
There is tremendous raw material in the emerging nations: people who can learn and make a contribution. The opportunities of the future will be in these emerging markets, and it is important for all of us to invest in the people who live and work there, so they can raise their games and ultimately raise their standards of living. In the end, the countries 国产视频 and the companies 国产视频 with the best people win