laurasteinbrink's blog

Michael Porter, notable business strategist from Harvard Business School, has no doubt that doing things differently than your competitors is the key to achieving a sustainable competitive advantage.  The double entendre of "sustainable competitive advantage" is exactly what many leaders in Northeast Ohio see as the strategy for growth by embracing sustainable business practices.  They expect growth for their businesses and growth for the region.  And, they have reason to bet on that strategy because companies with sustainable strategies (the broadest definition that includes humanity as much as environment) are generating higher performance targets than others (don't believe me? Read Green to Gold by Daniel Esty and Andrew Winston).

Two of ANEO's newest partners, Entrepreneurs for Sustainability and the Corporate Sustainability Network are leading the discussion both within corporate board rooms and in the civic space here in Northeast Ohio.  They will be great additions to the ANEO Partner network, bringing a perspective on business growth and attraction that integrates all areas of the region's action plan around common goals of increasing income, increasing jobs and decreasing poverty.

Did you know that Cleveland, Ohio is quickly becoming an emerging region for social media and technology development? A number of social media and technology sites are being developed in Cleveland and the Social Media Club - Cleveland -- the fastest growing club of social media professionals & users in the country with over 400 members today -- is proposing the creation of a Fund to support this growing industry.  The Fund would be dedicated to investing in start-up, pre-revenue companies that will focus on social media, social media tools and social technologies in the Cleveland, Ohio marketplace. All portfolio companies in the Fund would also have the ability to incubate their operations in the Social Media & Technology Center (“SMTC”).  Examples of companies that might fit the profile are:

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I'm currently enrolled in an MBA program in sustainable business and am supposed to be writing a paper right now for my class.  Thanks to my professor, I have been sent on a stimulating journey of discovery that led me to (a) find kindred spirits in Colorado; (b) admiration for a true visionary; and (c) new ideas for how we can use technology to spread ANEO. 

All of this because my professor sent my classmates and me a link to a video on YouTube (see link #1 below -- but please keep reading first).  The statistics about population, education and workforce presented in it are stunning.  Since I am procrastinating from writing my paper, I decided to watch the video at link #2 and then I got really excited.  It is about our Education Works program on speed, and concludes with an invitation to join a global network of educators and citizens talking about how to transform education in the 21st Century (check out previous blog posts for info on EducationWorks).  Education Works is an infant network in Northeast Ohio of business, education, civic and funding leaders dedicated to trying different things in education to move the needle forward on 21st Century Skills.  The final leg of my procrastination journey led me Karl Fisch's blog (he's the visionary behind all these videos) where I found video #3.  In this video, Karl delivers a commencement speech for the graduating high school class of 2020, in which he talks about how technology has transformed education over the last 13 years.  (And I don't mean changed --- I mean totally transformed, as in, nothing like you know it today -- NOTHING like you know it today.)

Last week I had the opportunity to present at the first of a 3-part series on regionalism hosted by the League of Women Voters (many different leagues across NEO from Shaker Heights to Trumbull County).  The next two events are at the Hudson Library the evenings of 2/12 and 2/26 and feature discussions on revenue sharing and the Regional Prosperity Initiative.

Something I said during my presentation struck people.  I know this because I have now received multiple notes from those in the audience about the same comment:  Regionalism isn't about consolidation, its about collaboration and sharing. 

Regionalism doesn't require you to give up what you have, or to take from your neighbor, but instead encourages you to ask and answer the question, "What can we do together?" 

Folks, the time has come where we can no longer stick our heads in the sand and pretend that what happens "over there" isn't our problem.  I know you know know what I'm taking about.  No more using "regionalism = consolidation" as an easy way out.  We are all in this together, so we might as well get over whatever issues prevent us from asking and answering the question, "What can we do together?" 

ANEO got a 2-for-1 when I recently met with Tom Barratt, principal with Tom Barratt Companies.  This successful angel investor and entrepreneur is behind several growing Northeast Ohio companies and a notable resource to the angle investor community with his monthly Barratt Report.  The Tom Barratt Companies is one of many potential ANEO partners in the Northeast Ohio angel network and he brings a vital perspective to the growing ranks of ANEO Partners working together to improve Northeast Ohio’s economy.

A group of 35+ leaders from across Northeast Ohio, referred to as the Education Works Leadership Council, took a bold step in identifying three pilot programs they will support that will lead to a more effective education system focused on truly preparing our learners for success.  Guided by their self-defined purpose statement,

"The Education Works Leadership Council will transform the community’s aspirations for learning
and achievement in NEO.  We will actively partner with the regional community to identify and foster the skills necessary for all people to become thriving members of a global society.  We will communicate this vision and encourage new, innovative strategies for education.  We will know we have been successful when educational expectations and achievement in the region show continual improvement."

The Leadership Council will turn its work in 2009 from planning to action on their three projects:

• Exploding the Obstacles” to Inclusive Student-centric Learning:
  a Community Action Research Project
• Develop “Critical Thinking at Work” through the Liberal Arts
• Create the “Education Works Top Ten” - a celebration and honor
  program for the most successful and innovative school/work
  programs in the region

Check out the attached file to learn more about Education Works, an initiative sponsored and funded by the Cleveland Foundation, the Gund Foundation, the Jennings Foundation and the Fund for Our Economic Future. (You have to be logged in and registered on this site to see the file.)