Program Provides Confidence and Ideas Leading to Overseas Turnaround

Paul Thomas
EMBA 1994
President
ALCOA, North American Fabricated Metals Division

The Executive MBA experience certainly led to an excitement about global opportunities. I had traveled outside of the U.S. but never lived in a foreign country. The EMBA program, coupled with (then CEO) Paul O'Neill's emphasis on global opportunities, opened my eyes to the impact and opportunities of global markets. I became convinced that I would welcome a foreign assignment. Shortly after graduating, I was offered and opportunity to lead a business in the United Kingdom that had historically struggled. As a result of my growing confidence and interest in global markets, I took that opportunity. Armed with some of the tools learned in the EMBA program, I was able to lead a team of some great co-workers who, through a lot of hard work, were able to successfully turnaround this operation and restore it to profitability. During this period, I used much of what was taught by Professor Jim Wansley in the way of using financial instruments to mitigate risk. This led to clear policy in hedging prices on materials, currency, and natural gas.

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