Silfen offers leadership tips

David Silfen has a job that sounds all too ideal for many Wharton students. As advisory director of Goldman Sachs, Silfen plays a major role in operating one of the largest financial services firms in the world. But here's the catch: He has a degree in History from the College of Arts and Sciences -- not a Finance degree from the Wharton School of Business. Silfen, a 1966 College graduate and namesake of the Williams Hall study lounge, spoke to more than 30 College students yesterday as part of the Fox Lessons in Leadership series. Silfen was the series' second featured speaker of the year. During his 45-minute talk, Silfen engaged his audience with his recipe for a great leader. He described a skilled leader as a person who has the courage to challenge the norm and who listens and utilizes others' ideas. Great leaders should be able "to check their egos at the door." He contended that the best leaders attract quality people to work with them. And then, once they attain a talented pool of subordinates, they keep them updated. "People want to hear a game plan," Silfen said. While all leaders have goals, Silfen said, they must be able to convey their visions well. "Communication is imperative to being a good leader," he explained, citing Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton as examples of excellent communicators. He proceeded to name numerous successful business and non-business figures -- Bill Gates and Michael Jordan, for instance -- who exemplified his requirements for great leadership. Using examples of high-profile leaders from diverse fields, he helped convey his point that characteristics of a great leader "transcend disciplines." Silfen also reminded the crowd that businesses are no longer run with pen and paper. A leader, he said, must be aware of the new innovations in technology -- "the terrific equalizer," according to Silfen -- that will affect his field. Silfen also demonstrated that great leaders must have a "soft side." They must have, he said, compassion and empathy. Silfen commented that leaders who give back to the community are the ones who truly make a difference. Silfen saved his most important characteristic of a leader for the last point -- the willingness to continue his education. On this point, one student asked Silfen about the benefits he saw in his Penn education in the College. He replied that a liberal arts education taught him how to think, how to solve problems and how to deal with people well. "There are terrific options for liberal arts students to become involved in business," he said. Students were by and large very impressed by Silfen, as many found his speech interesting and motivational. "[Silfen's speech] was insightful into the topic of general leadership," College senior Dan Boldin said. "It was nice to hear how he rose into business from a non-business background."