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AEP Online |
Nader Darehshori: Consummate CollaboratorNader Darehshori's first job was teaching in a one-room elementary school in his native Iran. After a year at that post, his natural affinity for management began to emerge: He became supervisor of 20 or so such schools. And after coming to the United States in the early '60s, to attend the University of Wisconsin, he switched his major from education to business. But still, his fascination with education persisted. At U Wisconsin, he says, "I fell in love with U.S. universities, with campus life." Even upon finishing his degree, he didn't want to leave that environment behind. "I saw an advertisement for a job, that said you can call on professors all over the Midwest, to sell educational books. I thought, This is fantastic. It will take me not only to one campus, but many." In 1966, right out of college, Darehshori started in his first position with trade and educational book publisher Houghton Mifflin, as a college division sales rep in the Midwest. He remained in the job for 10 years, gaining a close-to-the-customer perspective that, he says, became a tremendous influence on his later style as a manager. Over the years, he rose through Houghton's college division--first, he took on various sales management positions in the Midwestern regional office, and eventually, in 1987, he was elected its senior vice president. His experience as head of that division, he says, formed a cornerstone of his executive style. "What I learned there was, just as in any business, select the very best people, and give them the space to do their best possible job. You either have faith in them, or you don't. "That's not much different from when I was training salespeople," he remarks. "I hired very sharp, dedicated people who were willing to work hard, gave them the training, and provided an environment of trust and respect. By and large, people don't disappoint you." Given his lifelong devotion to the education environment, it's no surprise that in the years he spent at Houghton Mifflin, crafting a collegial atmosphere was among his most important aims. Success, he says, "boils down to creating an environment where people can express themselves; no one, singly, has all the answers. I always said, 'We don't value people for which job they have--loading books in the warehouse, or seated in a corner office. We value them for how well they are doing that job.' " He was elected chairman and chief executive officer of the company in April 1990, and became president in October 1991. In leading Houghton, he continued his collaborative style, meeting often with division heads, and pursuing decisions as a group. During his tenure, its employees referred to the company as "Mother Houghton." In June 2001, Houghton Mifflin was sold to the French media conglomerate Vivendi Universal; a year later, Darehshori retired from the company. In August 2002, when Vivendi put Houghton up for sale, rumors abounded in business publications, that Darehshori might rejoin the company, under new owners still to be determined. Whether he will get involved, Darehshori says, "depends on who buys the company. I would like to see it stay together--that is my hope, that the Houghton Mifflin name survives." Whether he returns to Houghton or not, though, Darehshori doesn't plan to end his relationship with the industry. "I have no intention of retiring from publishing, especially educational publishing," he says. "I hope sooner or later to have a small company that I buy myself, or to be involved in a publishing house again." To be elected to AEP's Hall of Fame, he adds, is a great honor. "During the years I have been involved [in educational publishing], I have sometimes been very critical of others; but that is the nature of competition. I have tremendous respect for people in this business--by and large, these are people who select the field first; then think second, about making a living." Questions, ideas, or in need of more information? Please contact Stacey Pusey at 856-241-7772. |
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2008 The Association of Educational
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