INNOVATOR: ALUMNI UPDATE • 7 curriculum: putting design, engineering and commerce together so students can work across disciplines to develop innovative solutions. At the same time, the health sciences are becoming increasingly important, with the need for innovation to reduce healthcare costs. Again, Philadelphia University is at the forefront. The University was always distinguished in textiles, fashion and design, and now it’s taking the lead with its award-winning DEC curriculum and distinctive health sciences programs. What advice do you have for current PhilaU students? Get involved with outside companies on any project, internship or experience. It teaches you what the work world is really like, improves your skills in both presentation and professionalism, and shows what’s expected of you. Second, if you have the chance to have an international experience, take it. We are in a global economy and more companies are looking for study abroad as part of your credentials. How has PhilaU’s focus on innovation prepared you for your career at Verizon? Innovation is critical. Let’s use wireless as an example. Back when I went to school, nobody even knew what a wireless phone was. Since then, nothing has changed the world as significantly as wireless technology, whether it’s the tablet or smart phone—everything is based on the internet and wireless. Changes in technology are accelerating so quickly that if you don’t keep on top of innovation, you’re going to fall behind. It’s no longer a 10-year cycle, it’s more like months. Consider the number of large companies that never really focused on innovation— they no longer exist. PhilaU honored you as a Leader of Innovation in 2012. How are you an innovator? “Why” is a huge word in my vocabulary— “Why do we do it that way?” Often, the answer is “We’ve always done it that way.” That isn’t good enough. It’s not just about developing a product. It’s about the process and a way of thinking about things. As CFO of Verizon, that’s how I try to instill innovation in everything we do. We undertook a finance transformation two years ago, because Verizon was probably two-to-five years behind other best-in-class organizations. We asked, “How do we leapfrog ahead?” because if we took three years to complete the transformation, other top firms would be another three years ahead of us. What we found was very similar to Philadelphia University’s model: when you bring people together from different perspectives, they naturally collaborate. Process improvement becomes an everyday occurrence. And, by bringing in new talent to work with our existing employees, collaboration is really sparking innovation in the way we handle finance at Verizon. We are leaner, closing our books faster, and using better processes. What modern technology or innovation do you wish you had as an undergraduate? A tablet that ran wirelessly with connection to the internet. I remember days that I had to research in the library stacks and pull microfiche. The hours that were wasted! Now everything is at the touch of your finger. It’s why students today are so far ahead. Verizon and PhilaU are working together on an innovation project. What value do you think the students will bring? This project is like a miniature Verizon Innovation Center within Philadelphia University, working with our strategy folks and engineers to use Verizon technology to develop an innovative solution for the healthcare industry that no one else has been able to achieve. With the diversity of people coming together, we have created the perfect incubator to produce something that is going to solve a realworld problem. What’s the most rewarding part of your career? I have been extremely fortunate at Verizon, where I began in 1989 when it was Bell Atlantic. I have been given a lot of opportunity. For me, it is the people that had faith in me to get something done. It also has been rewarding for me to work with a lot of great leaders who helped me develop both professionally and socially. That is something that now inspires me to mentor our younger employees. What fuels your passion for education? My wife and I are very involved in education. Education is a key component of what moves the next generation forward. Our educational system is lacking today, so it is my own personal philanthropic goal to give back to education at every level: elementary, high school and university.
Alumni Update Spring 2014
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