IT outsourcing

How to streamline IT and stay focused on your core competencies

No excuses

How to be successful despite a down economy

8 Big ideas

Lessons on management, leadership and strategy from some of chicago’s top executives

1. Foster creative thinking in the office

At Edelman U.S., the nation’s largest public relations firm, President and COO Nancy Ruscheinski puts a premium on innovative thinking. “The industry that we’re in, creativity is table stakes,” Ruscheinski says. “It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity. So there’s real self-interest in creating an environment that spurs creative thinking.” Edelman does this several ways. […]

2. Give employees room to grow

When discussing career aspirations with employees, Kevin Kelly offers a piece of advice: use the information discussed to give them the room to grow. “There are three critical components to any job,” says Kelly, CEO of Heidrick & Struggles International Inc., a $648 million senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services firm. “First and foremost […]

3. Act on the information you have

Ann Drake lives by one of the oldest clichés in the book: Trust your gut instinct. To Drake, CEO of DSC Logistics Inc., a 2,000-employee logistics and supply chain company, that means acquiring all the information you can and then acting on it. “Your instincts are valuable,” she says. “… When I have this intuition […]