Dolores Cross has many accomplishments as both a professor and university administrator. She became the first female president of both Chicago State University in 1990 and later Morris Brown College. In 1997 she moved to the presidency of the GE Fund, a non-profit wing of General Electric. A former professor at Claremont Graduate University, in this interview she discusses her thoughts on Peter Drucker. She begins by explaining how impressed she was with Drucker’s ability to distill the essence of a conversation along with his genuine interest in her as person, her background, and her career. She cites Drucker’s support as a strong factor in her pursuit and obtainment of the presidency at Chicago State University. From there she goes on to describe the challenges she faced both at Chicago State and Morris Brown and how Drucker guided and advised her in facing those challenges. She then discusses Drucker’s work with nonprofits and the idea of gaining both professionally and personally from such work. According to Cross, Drucker felt that if you could succeed in managing nonprofits then you could succeed anywhere. She predicts that Drucker’s legacy will be his belief that anyone can succeed and his advice to capitalize on your strengths, thus making your weaknesses irrelevant. She concludes the interview by stressing the importance of Drucker’s sense of humor.
Drucker, Peter F. (Peter Ferdinand), 1909-2005 Interviews Cross, Dolores E General Electric Company College administrators Chicago State University Morris Brown College Claremont Graduate University Nonprofit organizations
Source
Original videotape: Excerpt from two 30 minute VHS Tapes; Tapes 68-69: Peter F. Drucker Biography
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