My Inspirational Teacher: by former Accenture Executive Chairman William D. Green
鶹APP
This article originally appeared on the .
Charlie Kramer taught me when I was 19 years old. His subject was economics 鶹APP 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 鶹APP nervous and distracted 鶹APP and so I didn鶹APPt have very high expectations when I arrived.
But Charlie Kramer understood the magic formula 鶹APP educate, energise and inspire. What made him different than any teacher I鶹APPve 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 鶹APPfinding yourself鶹APP. I then had the choice of becoming a plumber 鶹APP the family business 鶹APP or college. My dad said: 鶹APPWhy don鶹APPt you try that college thing?鶹APP
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鶹APPm still here鶹APP I give the man 鶹APP and the institution 鶹APP all the credit. I am also grateful to our community college system which plays a key 鶹APP and often under-valued 鶹APP 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 鶹APP and the companies 鶹APP with the best people win