By Michael Turgeon
As a Northeastern alumnus, I am always interested in helping my alma mater reach its full potential. This leads me to my next point. Much of my time at Standard ‘ Poor’s [a financial consulting company] in New York City is spent packaging and marketing the company’s intellectual property (i.e. research) via the Web and/or via e-mail newsletters, thereby promoting S’P’s “Thought Leadership” to the global market place.
Anyhow, I think the same approach could be extremely beneficial to Northeastern University. NU should seriously consider publishing industry-specific newsletters via the Web, and/or via e-mail.
Articles could be written by NU students, faculty and industry leaders who are also alumni, increasing Northeastern’s exposure through published research articles online, thus promoting its “Thought Leadership” more broadly.
Utilizing the power of the Internet and its global reach is a highly efficient and effective way to publish thoughtful industry research, analysis and commentaries on an international scale, thereby gaining clout in the global community. I strongly believe NU can succeed at creating substantial value in this space if it focuses on areas where it has significant intellectual strengths (i.e. international business, entrepreneurship, high-tech, engineering, nano-manufacturing, biotechnology and pharmaceutical development) which can all be tied to specific industries.
As we all know, colleges and universities, as well as many businesses, are judged on what and how much they publish. An online industry-specific newsletter is an excellent way for NU to promote its “Thought Leadership” to the global community.
Industry-specific online newsletters are inexpensive to produce and are a quick and easy way to gain immediate access to the global marketplace. In addition, students who participate will be gaining valuable experience in how to produce and manage an online enterprise. They will learn how to do research, and write articles relevant to specific industries, as well as how to market and manage an online publication. Not only are online newsletters an inexpensive and efficient way to publish and promote Northeastern’s “Thought Leadership” worldwide, the university would be doing a great service to Northeastern students by providing them with the necessary tools and skills to do what many leading organizations are already doing today.
– Michael Turgeon is a member of the class of 1996. He received a BSBA from the business school with a concentration in marketing.
