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I first made use of Gary Ranker's talents in 1989, when I assumed responsibility for the Work-Out program in GE's nuclear energy business. The leaders of the business were wonderful, highly capable people, but their strengths were much more technical than managerial. (We used to joke, but it was true, that many of them had acquired their leadership and interpersonal skills at the Hyman Rickover school of human relations, i.e., at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, where great work was done but dissent and empowerment were not exactly encouraged.)
In the "new GE" of empowerment and participation, these leaders were given an uncomfortably short time to make dramatic changes to their management practices and leadership styles. I asigned Gary to work with people who, frankly, wanted no part of him, but Gary's impact was so great that when the corporate budget for executive coaching ran out, a number of people used their department budgets and, eventually, their personal funds to continue the coaching — an astonishing performance on Gary's part.
Following his success within GE Nuclear Energy, Gary replicated these terrific results in other GE businesses — Plastics, Power Systems, and GE Capital — again working with leaders who, in some cases, had to be browbeaten into accepting a coach. Although conventional wisdom is that coaching relationships with unwilling clients cannot be successful, Gary was successful, again and again and again. In addition to his work in GE, I have used him with and recommended him to a number of other organizations, with consistently excellent results.
To me, Gary Ranker exemplifies the very best qualities of an executive coach. He is recognized to be one of a handful of people at the top of his profession. I unequivocally recommend him to you, and I would be happy to further discuss his qualifications or answer questions about him. I can be reached on 212-902-5435.
Steve Kerr
Managing Director
Chief Learning Officer
Goldman Sachs
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