Chamber speaker: Businesses failing to nurture leaders

A former state legislator turned venture capital fund manager said that in this sour economy, business is not doing its part to cultivate the next generation of leaders.

By JO DEE BLACK
Tribune Staff Writer

John Scully, managing director of Seattle-based Incepta Ventures, made his remarks at the opening luncheon Wednesday of the Montana Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting.

"The days of pulling people up through the company are gone," Scully said. "It’s ironic that at a time you have access to more information about business than any time in the past, it’s more difficult to find a job."

Now it’s up to business leaders to commit to change the trend and invest their time, money and talent, he said.

In better economic times, Scully said, new, talented workers improve business, which reinvests money in social capital, including education. The process runs in a cycle, since well-educated workers then enter the work force, improve business and so on.

"But to a certain degree, business has dropped out," he noted.

Scully commended those in attendance.

"You have an agenda, things you’ve tried to tackle," he said.

Webb Brown of the chamber said high education is a priority issue with his organization. He noted the Montana Chamber of Commerce supported past efforts to levy additional property taxes earmarked for higher ed funding.

"We support the research units of our universities, they are very important to business and our economy," he said.

Susan Knedler, president of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, said she was reassured by Scully’s speech.

"It’s refreshing to hear we can be part of the solution," she said. "I think he appealed to the best in us all."

Scully also noted in an environment where corporate ethical standards seem to have fallen, Montana is blessed with a better standard of business.

Jack Manning of the law firm Dorsey and Whitney noted business ethics is a hot topic today.

Although the majority of his firm’s clients say more oversight is probably a good thing, Manning said many publicly traded companies are struggling to interpret new federal regulations intended to protect investors.

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