Aegion CEO Charles Gordon speaks with OSU students about making things happen

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Spears School professor Ajay Sukhdial and Charles Gordon.

This past Friday, Oklahoma State University Watson Graduate School students welcomed Charles Gordon in their Professional Development course. Gordon spoke to students about leadership, importance of relationships, and making things happen in the workplace.

Gordon was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Aegion Corporation in 2014. Prior to assuming this position, Gordon was the CEO of Natural Systems Utilities, LLC, and a member of the Aegion Board of Directors.

In is presentation, Gordon discussed the importance of understanding and paying attention to all employees. He informed the students that the employees who see customers on a daily basis are important to an organization.

“When your employees are having a good day, your business is having a good day,” said Gordon. “It is important to take care of customers and the people who take care of customers.”

In addressing making things happen, Gordon stressed the importance of an organizational culture. “The biggest thing we had to do at Aegion is establish a culture,” said Gordon.

He informed student that organizational culture can be implemented and sustained by providing a safe work environment and keeping up awareness for continuous improvement.

After his presentation, Gordon answered questions from students.

Holly Colpitt, a first-year MBA student, asked Gordon, “What advice can you give us on making things happen?” Gordon stated that students must step out of their comfort zones to make changes not only in the workplace but also in their personal lives.

Course professor Ajay Sukhdial graduated from Wake Forest’s MBA program with Gordon, and he asked Gordon to speak with the students because of his many experiences and success.

“I invited Mr. Charles Gordon because being the current President and CEO of a billion-dollar firm, as well as having worked in a senior management position at one of the world’s largest multinationals, Siemens of Germany, he would serve as a good role model for my MBA students,” said Sukhdial. “Also, he could provide my students with advice about career management while working in a multicultural environment.”

For more information on OSU’s Watson Graduate School of Management, visit http://watson.okstate.edu/ or call 405-744-9000.