Connected spoke recently with Larry Italia, new recipient of the Certificate in Business Excellence, during a break on his first day of Negotiation and Decision-Making Strategies.
Participants earn the Certificate in Business Excellence by attending a total of 18 days of Executive Education programs within a four year period—becoming alumni of Columbia Business School and receiving all of the accompanying benefits.
Q: You are taking your fourth program with Columbia Business School Executive Education: Negotiation and Decision-Making Strategies. How is it going so far?
Larry Italia: It’s been interesting, but of course, we have just started. The first program I did with Columbia was the Executive Development Program: The Transition to General Management. Bob Bontempo [the faculty director for Negotiation] was one of the professors who taught in that program.
Q: What do you remember most from Transition to General Management?
Larry: All the different people I met. It was quite an international group. And you’re with them for two weeks, so it was more of a human encounter than I expected. The first week or so, there was a lot of homework and readings, so we were basically forced to disconnect from the office. That was good. Because if you’re making phone calls every 15 minutes and doing email, it’s like, ‘I’m kind of here, but I’m not really here.’ So I thought it was clever that they take you away from distractions.
At the time I was taking the class about transitioning to general management, I was the general manager. And I had three other jobs that I was doing with the company. The idea that I was going to step out for two weeks at that time was pretty challenging. But it was good for me, because I got a different perspective on management.
Q. Why have you continued taking Executive Education programs at Columbia?
Larry: Some of the topics covered [in TGM], I wanted to go more in depth.
Q: After completing all of these programs, you have earned select benefits of alumni membership in Columbia Business School with the Certificate in Business Excellence.
Larry: When I learned about the certificate, I wanted to complete the necessary courses, as I felt the certificate—as well as the programs—would be valuable to my career. And it’s all been good. Taking time away from work can be tough, but I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think it was worthwhile.
PROGRAM NOTE:
The Certificate in Business Excellence is exclusive to Columbia Business School Executive Education. Participants earn the Certificate in Business Excellence, and select alumni benefits with Columbia Business School, by attending a total of 18 days of learning within a four-year period. Any program from our open enrollment program portfolio can be applied towards the certificate.
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