Sander Flaum graduated from Ohio State in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the College of the Arts and Sciences. Although he did not receive his MBA from Ohio State, instead earning it from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, his ties to the college are strong due to his stellar career path in business and love of Ohio State. He is the CEO of Flaum Navigators, veteran consultant to Fortune 500 companies, marketing and sales effectiveness coach, motivational speaker and best-selling author. He has served on the Dean’s Advisory Council since 2006 and has given back to the college in innumerable ways.

What did graduating from Ohio State mean to your career?

I received great leadership training, which led me onto the path to become a marketing director of a leading pharma company and CEO of a Global Advertising Agency. Thank you OSU!

Tell us about some of your recent accomplishments.

I was named one of the 2016 top healthcare transformers by Medical Marketing & Media, a monthly business publication for healthcare marketers, for trumpeting the value of leadership and mentorship at a time when both are in short supply in the healthcare industry. We need leaders in this business. That’s why I’ve always championed the “Big Idea” both in industry through my work at my company Flaum Navigators and in academia. Marketing insight and leadership innovators will lead the next generation of business success.

I was also honored by PM360, a monthly magazine for marketing decision makers in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries as one of the top 100 most influential people in the healthcare industry in its 2^nd Annual ELITE Awards in the Mentor category. I believe the key in being a successful mentor is listening—it is also essential to building great businesses. The true successful leaders I have known have always surrounded themselves with A+ people. The team must be smarter in areas where the CEO is deficient. Team members should never be concerned about speaking out diplomatically on issues that are critical to success of the firm despite some opposing direction from higher-ups.

I also had the number one leadership show, Leader’s Edge, on public service radio (www.robinhoodradio.com) in Connecticut.

I am also very proud of being the former Chairman for the American Institute for Stuttering and board member of LimeConnect, a not for profit that helps disabled college students find employment.

What are some of your favorite memories from Ohio State?

I have two—being the business manager of the Sundial Humor Magazine and playing on the freshman baseball team for three games before being cut.

What advice would you give to a current student or recent Fisher graduate?

At some point, we all need to overcome adversity. In order to do it, you have to work harder and be smarter. Be sure to read Andrew S. Grover's book, Only the Paranoid Survive.