Hunstman tells secret of success in speech

Telling anecdotes from his own career, Wharton alumnus Jon Huntsman shared the secrets of his success in a speech to over 150 students in Vance Hall yesterday. Huntsman, chairman and chief executive officer of Huntsman Chemical Corp., began his speech by praising the Wharton curriculum for giving him "the burning spirit of competition" and encouraging him to "go out in the world and succeed." Huntsman said the most important ingredient in becoming a successful entrepreneur is interpersonal skills. "People all want the same thing," he said. "They all want freedom, human rights, and the opportunity to test their own ability and capacity." Huntsman also said that a good entrepreneur must learn that "no means yes". "I get excited when someone tells me no . . . you have to keep going back until you turn around [his or her] position," he said. However, Huntsman said he believes the primary concern in business is to be humanitarian. "The broader issue is what we are doing to better and improve the world around us," he said. Huntsman then shifted gears and discussed his interests in the Soviet economy. He said that he just returned from his 21st trip to Moscow in last three years and is currently negotiating major economic reforms in the Soviet Union. He said that he enjoys working with the Soviets since their country is a land with large frontiers, "the greatest opportunities," and, most importantly, an intriguing risk factor. "The greater the risk, the greater the reward will be," he said. Students at the speech said they found Huntsman very entertaining and informative. "It was refreshing to actually hear a CEO believe in more than just profits, but humanitarian concerns as well," said Wharton senior Kristy Stern. "I enjoyed hearing about ideas on the importance of helping people through business, especially people in other parts of the world, where people do not enjoy the same standard of living as we do," said Wharton senior Geoff Kostal. "He sets a good example." Huntsman's speech was part of the Wharton Dean's Advisory Board's Leadership Lecture Series.

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