The Toppling of Academic Royalty - Are Tech, Retirement and Media Next?

 Professional anonymous network Fishbowl Consulting captured the shock: The demand (and respect) for erudite management consulting (with all its slide decks) had plummeted. And the sector might not bounce back, with only MBB (McKinsey, BCG and Bain) and small affordable shops left standing. 

As the nerdy absorbed those realities, what would emerge now and then was the term "French Revolution." That referred to the rebellion by industry against being told by management consultants it couldn't come up inhouse with its solutions itself.  And for the services of the management consultants it would have to pay through the nose.

Well, that language, it is turning out, might not be hyperbolic. 

The successful toppling of the President at Harvard - Claudine Gay - could be experienced as analogous to the Storming of the Bastille. The humiliation of Harvard will continue, especially since the governance folks okayed Gay's salary to continue to be $900k annually. Already fewer offers are coming to Harvard MBAs. Will other law firms such as Cravath and Paul, Weiss join Edelson in not recruiting at Harvard Law School? Applications for early admission are down almost 20 percent. There is that scene in film "Napoleon" in which rotten vegetables are tossed on Marie Antoinette.

My, my. the revolutionary forces who got that going, ranging from Bill Ackman to Marc Rowan, should be delighted with this beginning of the end of academic royalty. 

But, what's next for radical action?  

Tech comes to mind. Apple's products and services dazzle less. The Wall Street Journal reports that the heat is on AI to actually monetize. Startups are struggling for funding. And, come on, how many more apps will be inflicted on us to do our work? A simple $15 an hour job can require entering and exiting four or more programs, over and over again. My coaching clients from the legal industry lament about the continual introduction of new software. 

Also the odds are good that retirement - that invention by the financial-planning sector - will be blown up. You will always be expected to be a productive moving part of capitalism. The knowledge base and skills can't be wasted. Not being part of the labor force or an entrepreneur will be classified as "being disabled." Charlie Munger, Henry Kissinger and Betty White worked until they were nearly 100. 

The media will be put out of its misery. It's cringe to observe the outlets such as The New York Times trying way too hard to be relevant and remain profitable. We are getting our news and perspectives elsewhere. 

Of course the reformist zeal will dominate this election year. Lots can and will happen.

Meanwhile, in my intuitive coaching practice clients are moving toward the kinds of work which make common sense. Most of that is hands-on, with concrete results expected. 

In most cases you have only one shot in communications. Jane Genova is a communications coach and content-creator. Complimentary consultation (please text 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Harvard/Columbia Law Students Made Their Point, Davis Polk Rescinds Their Jobs

Image
"Davis Polk & Wardwell rescinded job offers to three law students at Harvard and Columbia universities after organizations they were part of made controversial statements about the Hamas attack on Israel ... they were leaders of groups that signed on to the Joint Statement from Palestine Solidarity Groups at Columbia University and the Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine."   Bloomberg Law , October 17, 2023 Davis Polk did not provide the names of the students. Could privilege be part of the reason the students who made the statements might have been unaware of the potential for severe consequences? In the hood as well as lower middle class neighborhoods we were totally aware of the correlation of what came out of mouths and employment and even survival. I got down cold not to mouth off. Legendary were tales of what happened to those who did shoot off their mouths.  The clients of law firms could be among those who are creat
Read more

The Two Letters - Being from Ethiopia Doesn't Get Melat Kiros Off the Hook from Understanding the Implicit Employer-Employee Contract in America

  That first letter.  It had been sent from a number of law firms - ranging from Sidley Austin to Sullivan & Cromwell to Paul,Weiss - to a number of law school deans. As many interpreted that communication it seemed to contain a veiled threat that if perceived antisemitism wasn't stopped recruitment at those law schools could be. I experienced the tone and content as, well, heavy-handed. And I have said just that in public venues. But I no longer do contract communications assignments for law firms. No residual looping remains since I have changed careers.  When I did do law firm assignments, such as for Paul,Weiss, you bet, I avoided any tone or content even in non-related material which could throw shade on the clients. That's the way it goes.  Since before doing assignments for law firms I had worked full-time for the Fortune 50, from the get-go I got the "it" - no open disagreement with those who sign the check. In fact, the "approval channel" is
Read more

From Watergate Glam to Offering Buyouts to Reduce Manpower By 240: The Washington Post

It's another sad day in what had been glam.  The Washington Post announced its plan to downsize manpower throughout the organization by 240. That will start with buyouts.  CNN admitted it's not ready for the future. The Wall Street Journal has gone part pop culture to attract a younger audience. The average age of its reader is 59. We already know ABC probably will be up for sale. Establishment media is making its point: Its existence is uncertain. What could replace it could be digital apps on phones. Public relations folks will pitch their clients' stories to the apps. Or maybe PR also will go poof. Everyone will be an influencer. Data or the gut for your careers and communications? Both of course. Complimentary consultation with intuitive coach, content-creator, and Tarot reader Jane Genova (text 202-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com ).
Read more