Twinsight 26 of 50: Unite as Americans in Remembering

Today we are probably all thinking about where we were 10 years ago. Where were you? I was at work downtown Minneapolis at Hewitt Associates. As my colleagues and I started hearing the news, we each gradually came out of our offices and gathered in the one room with a TV. What is most poignant to me as I recall it now was how quiet the room was as we hung on every image and word on TV, trying to make sense of what seemed so senseless and unbelievable. Within a couple of hours, we were encouraged to leave the building because we are close to the IDS Center, the tallest building in the city, and there was speculation that other major US cities might be the next targets.

At the time, we had a Hewitt office in NYC but not in the World Trade Center towers. Last fall, we were acquired by Aon. Despite the little hassles that go along with any merger or acquisition, it's been interesting to learn about and start leveraging the expanded expertise that we have as a combined firm with a much broader global reach. Aon is also the principal shirt sponsor for Manchester United, the world's #1 sports brand, which is an exciting connection.

But I learned something about Aon a few days ago that was incredibly sobering. In 2001, the firm lost 176 colleagues on 9/11. A couple of days ago our CEO, Greg Case, sent the following message to honor those who lost their lives and encourage us all to remember. I was so moved by it that I got permission to share it with you.

To:        All Colleagues

From:         Greg Case

Date:        September 8, 2011

Re:        Remembering Our Colleagues on September 11

Colleagues,

Sunday, September 11 marks the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center tragedy. It is a day for mourning and remembering our 176 friends and colleagues and for remembering the courage of their families who have since moved forward in the face of unequaled sorrow.

Your global Aon colleagues hope that on Sunday you will join us to honor the memory of our lost colleagues by lighting a candle or sharing a moment of silence on their behalf at 10:28 a.m. EDT, the moment when the second tower fell in New York City.

For the past decade, Aon’s New York office has taken part in its own special traditions and those will continue this year. On Friday, September 9, 176 white roses will be displayed in the lobby of the Aon New York office at 199 Water Street with the names of our colleagues. On the same day, I will be with several hundred Aon colleagues in New York attending a non-denominational memorial service at St. Peter’s Church.

In August, some of our New York colleagues honored their fallen friends by supporting the New York City Police Officers and Firefighters participating in the 2011 World Police and Fire Games in August. Many New York police and firefighters lost their lives in the World Trade Center, and Aon continues to be a strong supporter of their good work. In addition, representatives from the Tribute WTC Visitor Center came to Aon’s New York office in July to capture reflections from some of our colleagues about September 11. These reflections will be part of the Tribute located in Battery Park in New York City near the Gardens of Remembrance.

Aon also has been a major supporter of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. The museum, which is set within the footprints of the original Twin Towers, will provide visitors with a place for contemplation, reflection and remembrance. Aon also has been a significant sponsor of Project Rebirth, a video documentary that captures in images and sounds the rebuilding of lives as well as the Ground Zero location where the World Trade Center formerly stood. The film’s mission is to chronicle living history and honor September 11 victims and first responders. It will premiere on the ShowTime cable network on September 11.

In addition, the Aon Memorial Education Fund, a program started in 2002 and funded in part by the support of Aon colleagues around the world, continues to provide scholarships for post-secondary education to the dependent children of our lost colleagues. Through various fundraising activities, Aon has raised more than $2.6 million and has helped over 60 young people pursue their secondary education goals.

One of those is David Hemschoot, the son of Mark Hemschoot, who died on September 11. David graduated magna cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and received recognition as the top student in the Finance Department at the university. In his note to Aon, David said in part, “Seeing the scholarships as a tribute to my father has made me work very hard to do my best at college.”

David’s success story is a tribute to his mother and father. It also represents the success stories of many other children of Aon colleagues we lost on September 11 who have achieved great things. And in some small way, the various efforts of Aon colleagues around the world to support the Fund have been the greatest legacy all of us can give to the memory of those friends and colleagues who were lost on September 11.

As part of our tradition, you can continue to celebrate the lives of our lost Aon colleagues through Aon’s Legacy web site and the Aon Book of Remembrances.

Ten years ago on September 11 we witnessed destruction and tragedy. May we always remember the courage of our lost friends and colleagues and may that spirit continue to live not only among all of us, but also among their children who offer our world a shining light for a better tomorrow.  

Best,
Greg

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Twinsight 22 of 50: Balance Confidence with Humility

Steve Wagner

Today is my last of four posts featuring friends of mine who are age 50+. Each of them is particularly gifted at one of these leadership qualities that can converge in your 50s - energy, interdependence, wisdom, and humility. I'm excited to introduce you to Steve Wagner. When I thought about leading with a measure of humility, he was the first person who came to mind. I had the privilege of working with Steve at Hewitt Associates (now Aon Hewitt) before he retired in 2006. When I went to client meetings with him, he was usually the smartest, most experienced person going to the meeting, and also had modestly prepared the most. So where did that humility come from, and how does it strengthen his leadership? Here's what he had to say.

How did you get started in the business world?
I grew up on a farm in Nebraska, and started working when I was 13. When I went to the University of Nebraska (yes, I bleed red), I decided to study math because it was always easy for me. Because I didn't have to study, I could also work and socialize. I didn't really want to teach, and one of my math teachers said, "You should be an actuary." It sounded kind of interesting, so I took the first of 10 actuarial exams and passed it.

I graduated from college in 1971, and then joined the Army for three years. When I was discharged, I learned that through the GI bill, the Army would pay for me to get my Masters in Actuarial Science at Nebraska as well. When I was graduating in 1976, I interviewed with eight companies that came to campus - four consulting firms and four insurance companies. Because ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) had just passed and there was a real need for actuaries, all eight organizations offered me a job. I ended up deciding to join Hewitt Associates because consulting sounded interesting, and my mom and I thought there was just something classy about Hewitt. My dad didn't want me to work in the big city of Chicago, but I told him I'd be in the suburb of Lincolnshire where there was bound to be some cows and chickens nearby. I worked in Lincolnshire for four years - working 40 and studying 20 hours a week while continuing to pass the exams.

One day in 1980 after I'd passed all my exams, the manager of the actuarial practice came into my office and presented me with a decision. He asked if I wanted to be an actuary working in the office on client projects or an account manager out with clients. I said that I'd rather be out meeting people. The next thing I knew, the Hewitt CEO offered me the opportunity to open another office. Of the options, I chose Denver. I was 31 and starting the adventure of my life. Computers were just starting to get good, and the fax machine had just come out. I remember the first time I saw a fax come through our machine. It was like magic!

I obviously had no experience running anything, but I did know how to work hard. I committed to learn something every time I got hired for a project and apply it to my future work. In 1984, the Denver office was running successfully, and I was asked to move to the Minneapolis office. "Too cold!" I said, but somehow they persuaded me, and I've lived here ever since. Because my first love was solving complex retirement design issues for clients and I never really liked the internal management part, I was able to carve out a great niche.

With all your accomplishments, how do you live with confidence yet stay humble?
I really don't think I'm a great leader and not really a great people manager, and I used to tell the big wigs at Hewitt that. But I have learned to capitalize on my strengths and the talents that God has given me. Through a "Living Your Strengths" program, I discovered my top five strengths in the Strengthfinders model:

1) Harmony - building consensus and focusing on what brings us together.
2) Responsibility - taking the lead in getting things done.
3) Includer - accepting everyone and casting few judgments.
4) Communication - being able to explain things clearly.
5) Input - gathering ideas and insights from everyone along the way.

How have you been spending your time since you retired?
At least five years before I retired, I started reading about retirement and planning what I'd do. Everything in my life revolved around my job and I was going 100 mph, so it was important for me to learn how to make the transition well. Now I'm as busy as when I was consulting, but I don't really have stress.

I've been spending a lot of time with my family. My wife, Dee, has had some significant health issues, so it's been a blessing to have more time to devote to her as well as our two sons who've been at home, and our adult daughters and their families. And I'm involved in volunteer work at our church around issues that are important to me and what I believe Jesus would do. I'm on a justice counsel in the southwest suburbs with the goal to make a dent in eliminating poverty in our corner of the world. It's amazing how close homelessness and poverty are to us in suburban America. I also like to cook, garden, and take fishing trips with my brother.

I've also tried to become more humble. You can always do better.

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