Moving Interview

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Hi,

I just watched a very moving interview on television tonight on ABC given by Howard Lutnick of Cantor Fitzgerald to Connie Chung. If you aren't familiar with CF, they are the world's bond exchangers (kinda like Wall Street is for stocks). I have worked for several CEOs, and heard lots of interviews, but this one interview has moved me more than any I have ever heard. Mr. Lutnik, CEO of CF, stated he had offices on the top floors of the north tower and he feared that he had lost 700 of his employees. He described these employees as his family. Amidst a great deal of emotion and tears, he described the terrible events that happened (he witnessed the building collapse). He said his remaining employees told him today they had to go to work. He told them not to go to work, to go home and be with their families. He said they refused and actually found a way to open for business. He kept repeating that he told the remaining 250 employees (which I guess were located elsewhere in other offices) to go home, kiss their children and be with their families. Even though he has lost his own brother in the disaster, he said he went to hospitals with a list of his employees hoping to find just one person, so he could call their family and give them some hope. Mr. Lutnik showed the kind of concern and emotion that one shows for close relatives, husbands and children. He cried when describing how his employees said they had to go to work. That kind of emotion cannot be faked.

While all the rest of the business world worries about economics, and business lost, this CEO of one of the most powerful companies in the world, is searching for his employees. Not sending others to do it, but going to hospitals and rescue centers, looking for himself.

I, who am very critical and generally cynical of corporate America, found Mr. Lutnik to be the kind of leader that I would follow anywhere should I be so fortunate. Most of the CEOs I know, aren't really "known" by their employees. I believe Cantor employees knew their CEO, and he knew them, knew their families, and was respected by them. I think corporate America could learn a little something from Mr. Lutnik.

If you can catch the interview, you will see what I mean. It is so very hard to describe.

Cindy

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), September 13, 2001

Answers

Now there's somebody we need to clone! God bless him.

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), September 13, 2001.

I saw that. And the first thing that came to mind was how great of a boss he would be to work for. It was obvious he cared a great deal, don't see too many folks care that much that they cry. especially for a man on tv (no offesne guys,) I was thinking how blessed he must be to care so much.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), September 13, 2001.

I too saw that interview and cried through it. If I were to choose a large company to work for that would be one I'd pick. A very great man.

-- Grannytoo (jacres40@hotmail.com), September 13, 2001.

We had one more day of vacation before starting home on Wednesday but found ourselves in Gardiner MT at the north entrance of Yellowstone Tuesday a.m. We decided that the wiser thing would be to start home immediately because of reports of price gouging, possibility of further attacks and just wanting/needing to be home. We didn't drive straight through as we were both pretty tired and realized we could easily become a danger to ourselves and others driving in that condition. Anyway, as we were passing through Kansas City listening to NPR, we heard a New York commentator interviewing a man we know with the Boone County (MO)Fire Protection District. John is part of the urban search and rescue team and has already served the country at the forest fires this summer. He's in his early 30's, a husband, father and all around nice guy. Please keep him, the other BCFPD members and all the rescue personnel in your thoughts. They see things they can never discuss with "civilians" and it takes a strong person to continue that sort of work. They can never be compensated adequately for their stress, separations from family and all too often, the ultimate sacrifice.

-- (rainbow@ktis.net), September 13, 2001.

My daughter saw the interview first and told me about how he cried over his employees. She was very impressed by him and when I saw it this evening, I was too. It's good to know that there is someone in big business who has a heart and does not put the $ first. I think the irony is that he has such a large successful business. I would suspect that it is because of the way he treats his employees that has a lot to do with that success. An extraordinary person.

-- Sherry S, N.Fl (natmatters@mail.istal.com), September 13, 2001.


I suspect that there are quite a few unsung heros these days. May God bless them and America!

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), September 14, 2001.

I saw part of that interview, my heart went out to that man. Imagine having to announce to 700 families that one of their loved ones is lost.

Bravo to the employees!! Show those cowardly despicable so-and-so's that the USA and the free world will not bow to these unspeakable acts, that business and free enterprise will continue in spite of their crap! I'm Canadian, but have lived 11 years in the States. We Canadians are usually more reticent, and get a big kick out of all the flag-waving and parades and what we usually see as show-offishness from Americans. Not this time. I want to see those flags waving, I want to see Ameicans banding together. I want Canadian and British and any other civilized country waving their flags in the faces of these.....(there's no adjective strong enough)....cowards. I applaud any and all of the affected people, and would encourage them to stand up and rebuild. Show them that such mindless destructiveness is simply not tolerated, and it will not destroy the spirit of America and the free world.

Chelsea

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), September 14, 2001.


My heart went out to that man-there was also an interview earlier with the wife of one of CantorFitzgeralds employees with a pic of her husband begging anyone who might have seen him... I remember another great employer-I can't remember his name but it was the guy whose company made Polar Fleece-the factory burned down and he did not lay off a single person-somehow he managed to keep them all on payroll until they were able to get the factory rebuilt. I, too am critical of corporate America-but apparently, they arn't all bad. Although its more expensive, I've tried to buy real Polar Fleece instead of knock-offs since I've heard that- and was rewarded because the real stuff holds up much better than the fake stuff does anyway.

-- Kelly (markelly@scrtc.com), September 15, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ