Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

I manage and lead Battelle which is a $6B/year enterprise managing seven national laboratories and a core contract research business.

I make decisions about the enterprise to ensure a successful, growing and profitable business. I decide all major financial investments and oversee all aspects of the company including the philanthropic and educational component.

There are many interesting challenges and solving complex problems, be they financial, technical or personnel is very satisfying.

Managing a $6B/year enterprise has every possible kind of challenge, but challenges should be ennervating not seen as difficulties.

I started as a researcher who was handed increasingly complex and broad management and leadership roles. I have enjoyed all aspects of all stages of my career.

All the way from technical, financial, and dealing with people issues both positive and problematic. Management and leadership skills are obviously needed and although some of these can be taught, they mostly need to be learned.

I started as a Postdoctoral student at Stanford Unversity, in California. A one year stay turned into four years and I taught undergraduate and graduate courses (1976-1980). I then joined Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Palo Alto, CA (1980-1992). I was recruited next to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in CA (1992-2002). I joined Battelle in 2002 and helped form the new Department of Homeland Security (2002-2003), became Director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2003-2007), managed all the Battelle Laboratories (2007-2008), and became President and CEO of Battelle in 2009.

I will retire from Battelle in 2018 and my future plans will focus on two publicly traded boards that I am on and one that oversees the national security labs in the USA.

Work very hard, wake up each day and want to go to work, if you don't feel that drive then change jobs. You have been privileged to have a great education, never waste a minute of your life.

Sheffield University provided me with a fantastic education that launched my career. I have been fortunate to be able to give back to the university with personal gifts for scholarships and also a recent gift of $1.5M in my name from my company. As your careers progress, think about how to give back to those who need help early on. That happened to me. An education is the greatest gift you can receive, it is also the greatest gift you can give.