Can you think of specific companies that are doing a good job
with this now?
Hewlett Packard, Raytheon—my
mind goes to manufacturing companies. They’re doing these kinds of quality
systems; they’re creating special-team environments. I think the more
bureaucratic companies that haven’t been successful are businesses like Xerox,
Kodak and IBM. The newer companies like Google and other Internet-oriented firms
use these techniques. There are also some newer companies in the nanotechnology
field—Dimatix in Silicon Valley is one example—that are very quick on their
feet.Do you see concrete ways the commitment to creativity is
helping these companies on the bottom line?
I can’t cite specifics, but it’s my impression that fostering creativity—however they
do it—is definitely a factor in their competitive position. Are there some kinds of businesses where this just wouldn’t
work?
I can imagine some businesses
where it would be less important than others, places where the work is very
routine. But even in those types of businesses, the idea of tapping into the
workers’ desire to make something special is something most companies are aware
of. And they’re trying to access that energy more than ever before. What drew you as a businessman to get involved with the
MacDowell board?
It comes from my interest in
creativity and innovation. Markem is almost 100 years old, and the reason it has
survived is because of the relentless pursuit of innovation. We like to obsolete
our own products, and in order to do that, we have to stay on the forefront.
I was brought up believing that innovation is a really good
thing and that creativity is to be nurtured. Since MacDowell was only 20 minutes
away, my parents used to take me there as a kid. I went to the studios, I talked
with the artists, I felt their excitement about being here. When I was the
treasurer of Markem, MacDowell needed a treasurer, so they asked me to join the
board and become theirs, which I did. They were looking for someone with
business experience. So arts groups need business, too?
Absolutely. If you look at
MacDowell as a business that creates value through the work of the artist, then
what is MacDowell as a business? It is a very specialized hotel operation that
runs 365 days a year. If the work is a measure of success, it’s been pretty
successful.
It’s been very successful. Photograph by Thomas Hart Shelby.
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