Chat Transcript December 17, 2006, 10:28PM EST

Gallup's Talent Search

(page 4 of 4)

Jennifer Mosser
The Gallup Organization

Story Tools

The program occurs over 18 months, and takes place with three to four residential sessions around the world in places like Nebraska, Los Angeles, Beijing, Mumbai, and Brussels. We keep cohorts small and focus on making all of the work applicable to real-world business issues that the executives are facing. Tuition is $68,500, and students graduate with a full-time MBA degree.

Silvestre3: What are the key elements you evaluate in a candidate? What's the weight you give to those components?

RobbCitigroup: Once again, each business likely follows an established protocol. In my case, it depends upon whether the person is an undergrad or someone who has returned to a program such as the Nebraska program. I look at academic standing, accomplishments beyond the classroom that are perhaps indicative of future momentum, style or demeanor, and work experience. I would view the GPA as a threshold only, having witnessed many late bloomers. In sum, bright and fit are the two dimensions I look at with equal weight.

JohnSampson1: Robb, how have you grown as a leader over the years,and how do you try to replicate/accelerate that in emerging leaders at Citigroup?

RobbCitigroup: Stumbling onto the Gallup/UNL program turned out to be a turning point for me. It came later in my career and provided things I didn't actually know I needed. For example, the program provided the opportunity to consider leadership from many perspectives. The demands of leadership offered an interesting opportunity to evaluate myself in my own business. I took a critical look at my own leadership and those around me.

At Citigroup, we also have a wide variety of methods to develop our leaders, including a management-associates program to stretch assignments. We generally find ways to build leadership at all levels, and in all functions. You may want to look at oncampus.citigroup.com for more information.

bbravo8: Can you explain what Gallup is?

RobbCitigroup: I've been a client and a student. It's a worldwide consulting firm that also manages the Gallup Poll. I suggest you check their Web site for detail.

JenniferGallup: Please refer to www.gallup.com for more information. We're a privately held, global management consulting, market strategy, and education firm with over 40 offices and 2,000 associates around the world. We work with many of the world's top organizations to help them improve their business results through better engagement of their intangible assets (engagement of their customers and employees, and development of their leaders).

FrancescaBW: Before we wrap up the chat, I was hoping all three of our guests could tell us the best career advice they have ever been given.

MattGallup: The best advice I was ever given was to "work the job I'm in, rather than looking for the next one." This is hard for an ambitious person to do but critical if you want to truly succeed.

JenniferGallup: Know who you are. Commit to what you can achieve. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know" (and then run as fast and furious to get the answers). Partner yourself with the best and those who have a genuine interest in your development, whether that's your manager or a colleague. Find a company that supports your passions.

RobbCitigroup: I have been the recipient of some great advice. It typically was "best" because it came at the right time for me. One of my favorite professors, a legend at UCLA, suggested that I never stop asking questions. Many students focus on providing the best answers when they might better devote their time to the quality of their questions. Both answers and questions can be equally telling.