Welcome to the a-connect IP Newsletter
by Sascha Schmidt
Welcome to the June 2007 issue of the a-connect IP Newsletter! In this issue we discuss the needs and challenges of “efficient growth”, and how companies can leverage entrepreneurial business builders to implement their growth initiatives.
First up is the article “Name of the game: Efficient growth” discussing key success factors for implementing growth initiatives and how companies can partly outsource business development in the incubation phase. Next, Robert Berendes, Head of Business Development at Syngenta shares some thoughts on how to leverage entrepreneurial business builders in growth initiatives. This issue's getAbstract business book abstract is called “Double-Digit Growth”, by bestseller author and former MIT Professor Michael Treacy. He offers executives relatively simple but intriguing insights on how to take a portfolio approach to growth, paying attention to diversification and risk management.
As usual, we present some exciting news and stories from our IPs: We share with you a few impressions from a relaxing social event with IPs from the Zurich region and the experiences of Australian based IP Steven who is currently working on his second a-connect project in Switzerland. Finally, we are proud to report on a-connect’s continued growth: You will find an update on a sampling of recent a-connect projects, our expansion to the US West Coast, additions to our team, and the recent expansion of our global talent pool.
Enjoy the reading!
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Name of the game: Efficient growth
How to implement growth initiatives successfully
by Sascha Schmidt
In today’s booming economies plans to grow the core business or diversify into new business areas become preeminent. After a phase of restructuring and financial trimming companies got leaner and more profitable. But as history repeats itself the pendulum is swinging back. Global economic growth has emerged and CEOs are tireless in announcing ambitious growth programs to inspire the financial community and drive share prices.
In the words of bestseller author Michael Treacy growth appears to be a “virtuous circle”. Fast growth attracts capital markets bidding up the stock. In turn higher stock prices mean cheaper capital which enables more investments in growth initiatives. Growth builds customer confidence and boosts morale on the inside. However, unprofitable growth could also lead into a vicious circle: It eats capital, irritates shareholders and stakeholders and destroys firm value in the long-run.
So the name of the game is "efficient growth". Read on to find out more!
> full story
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Interview with Robert Berendes, Head of Business Development, Syngenta
a-connect and business development - a powerful combination
by Nils Hagander
 Over the last few years, a-connect has worked with Syngenta on a number of business development projects around the globe. From China and India to Europe to the US and Brazil, a-connect IPs have brought in industry knowledge and business development expertise to support Syngenta's internal teams. Robert has overseen some of these projects and seen a-connect IPs "in action".
a-connect co-founder Nils Hagander spoke with Robert about business development and his experiences with a-connect.
Click below to read the interview!
> full story
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Speed Read: This Issue's Complimentary Business Book Abstract
"Double-Digit Growth", by Michael Treacy
 In keeping with the theme of this issue, we are offering free access to the abstract of “Double-Digit Growth: How Great Companies Achieve It – No Matter What”, by bestseller author Michael Treacy.
This straightforward book elaborates on the problem of corporate growth by reducing it to five simple disciplines. The author identifies sound principles how to grow in a virtuous growth cycle and supports his case with numerous examples from the annals of corporate success and failure.
Read on to find out more!
> full story
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Social event with IPs in Zurich
Get-together at the gallery "Art Seefeld"
by Serge Stanek
 On February 8, 2007, a-connect Zurich held a social gathering for the IPs from the region. The venue was the gallery “Art Seefeld”, next to our Zurich office. The gallery, which regularly holds exhibitions by local artists, proved an excellent setting for the event. Surrounded by sculptures and paintings, some 40 IPs and the a-connect team enjoyed a relaxing evening of art and discussions.
Click below for more information and pictures of the event!
> full story
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10 questions for IP Steven
An Aussie's thoughts about Switzerland and life as an IP
by Atul Khosla
 Steven joined the a-connect pool a bit more than a year ago. He started his career not in the business world but in the Australian health system as a medical practitioner and surgeon! In 2001 he joined Bain & Company in Sydney. After four years with Bain in Australia and the US (San Francisco) he decided to become independent and founded his own consulting firm, specializing in small to medium sized private companies. His focus areas are data modeling, financial planning, and organizational design.
Currently, Steven is working on his second a-connect project, which brought him all the way from Australia to Switzerland, where he is supporting a major financial services client in developing the strategy and a detailed financial model for their asset management division.
a-connect Talent Partner Atul Khosla recently spoke with Steven about his experiences.
> full story
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Recent Projects
Five exciting projects we are currently working on
From TV marketing and pharmaceutical distribution strategy projects in Asia to consumer segmentation, small business strategy and headquarters relocation projects in the US to an organizational re-design project in Europe, a-connect IPs are having impact at a number of clients in various industries around the world.
Click below to read about these exciting projects!
> full story
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a-connect expands to the US West Coast
San Francisco talent hub is up and running
As a-connect’s 5th anniversary approaches, we are proud to announce the opening of our 5th office: San Francisco. There are numerous ties that link the Bay Area to Switzerland, going back all the way to John Sutter and the 1848 gold rush. More important for our business, though, is the fact that the US West Coast represents a pre-eminent pool of independent talent. We have recruited IPs on the West Coast on a regular basis over the last three years and since opening the office in March, we have intensified this effort. Today, we already have close to 40 exceptional West Coast based IPs in our pool, and that number is rapidly increasing.
But IP recruiting was not the only reason for opening a West Coast office. We have projects at two large financial services clients ongoing, and just kicked-off our first project with a Silicon Valley based software firm. The office is strategically located in Redwood City, in between the financial hub in downtown San Francisco and technology firms in Silicon Valley.
Walt Renfree, who was a Talent Partner in Zurich for almost two years and who is originally from California, took the lead in opening this new outpost. We are in discussions with two other Talent Partners to reinforce this team in the coming months.
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a-connect Team Update
Two new Talent Partners and two summer interns have joined the a-connect team
We are happy to announce that the team continues to grow globally: Talent Partners George Clothier (Boston) and Michelle Crouse (Hong Kong/ Singapore) have recently joined the a-connect team. For the summer, we also have interns Jordan Trevino and Anders Hsi from Yale University supporting our team in the US. A warm welcome to all of them.
Meanwhile, Talent Partner Corina Turnes (Hong Kong/Zurich) and Office Administrator Elain Tse (Hong Kong) left the company as of May 30 and April 15, 2007 respectively. Talent Partner Perry Fagan (Zurich) will leave as of June 30, 2007.
Click below to read more.
> full story
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IP Pool Statistics as of May 2007
Our IP pool hit the 400 mark! Good start for our San Francisco office!
We are happy to report having hit the 400 mark of accepted IPs in the first quarter of 2007. In addition to regular recruiting efforts in existing markets, the current pool growth is also the result of targeted recruitment initiatives in such markets as the UK, Scandinavia and the US West Coast. We will continue our recruitment initiatives over the coming months, including our ongoing efforts in recruiting technology experts.
We are proud that our pool of exceptional independent talents is growing so rapidly. Here are selected statistics for the pool as of May 2007:
| Total IPs in the pool: |
435 |
Regional breakdown:
Europe
Americas
Asia Pacific |
224
123
88 |
We also continued building strength across functions, situations, and industries. Click on the links to see an overview of a-connect's expertise.
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Wanted: IPs with flair for IT
Do you know IPs with expertise in the IT area?
The speed with which customer demands and business enterprises are changing is increasing; so are the demands on information systems and technologies that support the business world. a-connect clients are also increasingly requesting support from highly qualified professionals who besides understanding their business issues, are able to advise them in different areas of information technology.
Consequently, we are actively recruiting IPs with a value proposition in information technology - in tandem with our continuous effort to welcome IPs that bring a track record in consulting and line management positions.
If you have a friend, colleague or acquaintance that is a seasoned consultant with specific expertise in the IT arena, please encourage them to get in touch with us. We would be very happy to meet them and explore the potential fit and remain thankful for your referral.
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