Herold Adams - Former CEO RTKL

• Always network and always dress well
• Put in charge of Kennedy’s grave
• Strong believer in understanding the language of business
• You don’t want to be the worker, you want to be the boss
• Mission: create places that enhance the human experience
• founded in 1946 – many architect firms began this year because soldiers came back
• urban design is the company’s foundation – looking at how buildings complement each other
•  strong in the Middle East and later invited into Japan
• answer letters…ended up meeting with the brother of the richest man in the world
• it’s all about the people and how you treat them
• method of doing work is understanding the culture of who they are doing business with
• culture runs through it all
• “I guess in your business you can’t be partisan”
• Sensitivity to culture
• Now more difficult to work overseas because of the war with Iraq
• Generally still accepted because of our openness
• Important to understand economics and politics of the world
• Encourage to learn another language
• Business card is important in many culture
• In japan present with a bow
• Bear hug in Mexico to “check to see if the other person has a gun”
• Read about countries and know about the differences in the religions because it has an affect on interpersonal relations
• No alcohol in Saudi Arabia
• Be aware of the foreign corrupt act from in the 70’s
• Walmart in Mexico has been in trouble lately
• Can’t give a valuable gift to anyone working with a foreign government
• More opportunities coming about in South East Asia
• Australians like Texans
• South America is filled with enthusiasm and growth
• Any country that builds a strong and large middle class is prosperous
• South America has close family relations; often invited into their homes
• Monkey brains is the weirdest thing he has eaten 
• Next growing market is India
• Saudi Arabia and Japan have the most unique cultures