11 Ways to Be A Leader in the Age of

Globalization: Opinions, Information, and Insights from

the 2008 Symposium on Democracy.
By Michael Buffa

1 Embrace the Information Age

If there is one key idea to take away from the 2008 Symposium on Democracy, it is the
idea that technology is paving the way for a truly connected world. Kathleen O’Neil,
owner of Liberty Street Advisors, states, “One of the main reasons America has become
an economic powerhouse is because we are proactive in adopting new technologies that
have allowed myself and others to run businesses virtually, something that truly connects
and empowers the world.” As citizens in the age of globalization, we must embrace this
information age and remember to, as Alexandre Melnik, Associate Professor at ICN
Business School puts it, “plug in and play the game.”

2 Live Like an Olympian

While the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Olympics might be
competition, Michael Phelps, or gymnastics, the words we should be focusing on are
peace, unity, and equality -- all of which have become a major part of the modern
Olympics. Karen Thompson Wolfe’s freshman seminar delivered a presentation on how
the Modern Olympic Games promotes globalization and brings to life issues associated
with the global community. What can we learn from this? That even a swim meet, a
volleyball match, or a bout on the uneven bar, has the power to transcend international
conflict.

3 Unleash Your Potential

Westminster Alumnus Paul Kavanaugh (‘81) and his wife Debbie gave students an
insider’s perspective on how to get involved with community projects worldwide safely
and effectively and how to truly make a difference across the globe. Kavanaugh states,
“Don’t bury your passion for learning about the world. Decide how much time and
resources you have to give, and do it.” As citizens during this age of globalization we
need to take our knowledge, our education, and our passion for service and make a
difference whenever and wherever we can. Don’t sit back and let others do the work,
take the reigns and unleash your potential on the world.
 
4 Become a Literary Guru
According to the Missouri Poet Laureate, Walter Bargen “There is one thing that can
bring countries together, and that is the power of language.” Not only can we learn from
our own writing, but we can learn from the writings of others and understand different
cultures and traditions across the globe. Whether it be keeping a weekly journal, reading
an online blog, flipping through the daily newspaper, or reading an international
bestseller, do what you can to understand the importance of literature. Whether it is meant
to entertain, to inform, or to enthrall, it will always, in the end, educate.

5 Reinstall Your Software

Dr. Alexandre Melnik challenges us to change our opinions on other people and other
places. He states, “Americans are bent on historical backgrounds. We are reluctant to
any reform and dynamic in ‘remise en cause,’ which is French for calling into question or
challenging ideas and ideologies.” We need to realize that the world is becoming more
modern, not more western. We are currently in an Information Revolution and our first
priority should be to open our minds up to change.

6 Eat Your Soup With A Knife

When describing his role during a war on insurgents in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. John Nogl
states, “It’s messy and slow, almost like eating soup with a knife.” However, this analogy
rings true in almost all areas of globalization. We need to understand that it takes time for
the world to adapt to new technologies, ideas, and ways of life. We need to adapt
organizational learning behaviors where we use knowledge and understanding to adjust to
new norms, doctrines, and policies. It may not be easy, but as the world becomes more
flat, we must take the time to learn from other countries so we can effectively work
together towards a more unified global economy.

7 Clean Up Your Act

In America, it seems to take a lot longer to act strategically due to what some would refer
to as a “messy by design” democracy. As the great Winston Churchill put it, “America
always does the right thing – after they have exhausted all possible alternatives.” It is our
job as a nation to clean up our act and make things easier on not only the government, but
also ourselves. How does this relate to us directly? Be smarter in your decisions, as a
consumer and as an investor. Look at all of your mistakes as stepping-stones onto bigger
and better decisions. With over 20 years experience at the Federal Reserve, Kathleen O’
Neil states, “The United States will emerge from each crises we are in with a far superior
knowledge and far superior systems than before.” Carry this into your personal life and
come out of each failure with a plan for the future.

8 Benchmark Best Practices

As Americans we harness the power to learn, study, and educate ourselves to any extent
that we want. With the birth of technology we can now research, experiment, and find
the best course of action for nearly any situation we face. We need to use this power to
benchmark our best practices to minimize our previous gaps in performance and
maximize future success in all our endeavors. Whether it be in one’s personal or
professional life, it is important that we learn from ourselves and learn from others --
always asking questions, taking notes, and constantly striving to be the best we can be.
9 Understand Outsourcing
One of the key facets of globalization is a more equal division of labor among countries
internationally. Outsourcing, the transfer of a business function to an external service
provider, has been given a bad rep for creating a loss of jobs for Americans and boosting
other economies aside from our own. It is our job as globalized citizens to look at the
positive aspects of outsourcing and understand the concepts that many fail to recognize.
Gayle Voyles, an economics professor at the University of Missouri St. Louis states, “Not
only does outsourcing allow U.S. businesses to provide 24/7 services at lower costs to
American consumers, but it also allows America to gain access to a wealth of rapidly
growing foreign markets.” What can we take from this? The idea that for every negative
aspect of globalization, there is a positive counterpart that we must understand and
embrace.

10 Open Your Mind To Globalization

The most important and fundamental lesson that we can take away as individuals in the
age of globalization is the idea that we should not fear what is ahead. Globalization is not
a right or left wing idea. It is not communist, nor capitalist, and it is a reality -- not an
ideological concept. As Dr. Melnik puts it, “Globalization is nothing more than an
interconnection of people and places. A nexus of cultures.” Globalization has the
potential to shrink and flatten the world, and can truly serve as a global platform for
collaboration between the United States and some very strong and powerful new
emerging markets. As citizens we should not be hesitant, we should not be scared, and
we should be open to an emerging world with new opportunities and an abundance of
new knowledge.

11 Take Pleasure in Learning

If there is one thing that I will personally take away from the 2008 Symposium on
Democracy, it is the sense of satisfaction that I felt after attending eight presentations on a
variety of topics from some of the most influential speakers and leaders in the world. As
students and alumni of Westminster College, I challenge us to take pleasure in the
acquisition of knowledge and embrace the opportunities we are given by this fine
institution. In the end, the more we learn, the more we grow, and the more we live our
Westminster College brand of being true leaders in a global community.