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PEGASUS COMMUNICATIONS POSITION
OPEN FOR AUGUST 1, 2008
President
Pegasus Communications (Waltham, MA), a leading conference and publishing company in the fields of systems thinking and organizational learning, is seeking a president to take the company to its next stage of development. Current president Ginny Wiley will be stepping out of the position in late 2008; after more than a decade of providing inspired leadership, she seeks flexibility and more personal time. The new president will join a strong, experienced staff of 9 employees in building on the successes of the recent past while seeking new markets and business opportunities. Ginny will overlap with the new hire as needed to ensure a smooth transition and will continue to serve in an advisory role in any way that meets her and Pegasus's needs.
About Pegasus Communications
Pegasus Communications, Inc. seeks to have a powerful, positive influence on individuals' and organizations' abilities to manage the complexities of the workplace and the world by:
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Identifying innovative thinking and practices,
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Translating these ideas in accessible ways,
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Disseminating these ideas and products to as large an audience as possible,
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Nurturing a community of learners.
Our History
Colleen P. Lannon and Daniel H. Kim founded Pegasus Communications, Inc., in 1989, and launched The Systems Thinker newsletter in early 1990. The name conveys the founders' belief in the power of systems thinking: “Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology, symbolizes the union of the traditional work horse with the wings of innovation—transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.”
The foundation of this field—system dynamics—grew out of the principles of feedback theory, which were first applied to the social sciences by Jay Forrester at MIT in the 1950s. Peter Senge also contributed greatly to the growth of this field through his book The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, first published in 1990, in which he outlined five disciplines, or competencies, of a learning organization, with systems thinking as the cornerstone: systems thinking, personal mastery, shared vision, team learning, and mental models.
As proponents of these ideas expanded their focus beyond system dynamics to the broader intent of building learning organizations, it was clear that a process for cultivating a community of learners was needed. With that aim, Pegasus offered the first Systems Thinking in Action conference in 1991 and has done so annually ever since. The company has also hosted smaller events and offered training opportunities over the years. In order to meet numerous requests for additional resources, Pegasus began producing video and audio tapes of its conferences and publishing books, booklets, anthologies, and workbooks. The company issued its first catalog in 1992. We now offer the most comprehensive collection of resources in the field. Pegasus Communications continues to develop new ways to communicate and apply the ideas, principles, and tools of systems thinking and organizational learning to leaders, managers, and educators across industries and around the world.
As a for-profit company, Pegasus Communications has been profitable in six out of the last eight years, including its latest year, and currently has annual revenue of approximately $1 million. Conference contributes approximately 50 percent of the revenue, and publications/newsletter 50 percent. The company is privately held by four stockholders. The president reports to a board of directors.
Our Products
The annual, three-day, Systems Thinking in Action® Conference, now in its 18th year, brings together 500–1,000 thought leaders and practitioners from around the world to explore new concepts, build skills, and share knowledge about organizational change. The conference rotates between the East and West coasts. The 2006 conference in Waltham, Massachusetts and the 2007 conference in Seattle were sold out.
Two newsletters, The Systems Thinker® and Leverage Points for a New Workplace, New World®, present a systemic perspective on current issues with illustrative stories from the field, useful tools and practices, and provocative thought pieces.
Books and Audio/Video Resources run the gamut from quick reference “pocket guides” and introductory workbooks such as System Thinking Basics: From Concepts to Causal Loops to advanced system dynamics textbooks. Perennial bestsellers include the engaging Learning Fables series by David Hutchens, the practical Toolbox Reprint and Innovations in Management series, and a variety of videos and audio resources. Our Core Values
In our everyday effort to live the values and principles from our field, we at Pegasus strive to practice the following core values:
Respect —Honor the individual, the organization, the environment, and the global community
Excellence —Continually enhance the quality and value of our products, services, and relationships
Absolute Integrity —Live the highest standards of honesty, fairness, and openness
Walk the Talk —Strive to bring our work to life in everyday practice
Stewardship —Responsibly leverage our people, time, finances, and natural resources
The company also maintains practices and traditions that help create a sense of community and a fun and positive work environment. These include weekly staff meetings, monthly potlucks to celebrate birthdays and company anniversaries, birthday and holiday “buddies,” retreats, sabbaticals, schedule flexibility, and telecommuting options. The President's Role in Pegasus's Future
Pegasus's three business units—conference, newsletter, and publications—complement each other, and each is vital to the company's success. With a small staff, producing a top-notch conference while investing time and resources in the other areas requires a great deal of planning and priority setting. In addition, overseeing the company's cash flow and budget necessitates skillful financial management.
Pegasus's commitment to producing high-quality products and services while carefully managing its resources requires a competency in negotiating mutually beneficial arrangements with authors, speakers, vendors, and partnering organizations. Likewise, retaining a skilled, self-directed, and experienced staff, along with fostering a collaborative corporate culture, has been a priority. Finally, staying on the leading edge of content, delivery, and marketing with a limited ability to invest involves creativity and foresight.
For almost 20 years, Pegasus has persevered in an increasingly competitive business environment, through major developments in technology, and in the face of both internal and external changes. Much of the success has stemmed from staying true to the mission of bringing the work of systems thinking and organizational learning to ever-broader audiences. Looking to the future, we see numerous possibilities for expanding into new markets, product areas, and modes of delivery.
Application Process
If you would like to be considered for this position, please submit a letter indicating your interest in, and qualification for, the position of president. Include your resume or curriculum vitae and your response to the questions below (limit each answer to 200 words or less).
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What interests you about the job? What strengths would you bring to the position? What might be some challenges for you?
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Describe your leadership style. Please give a brief example of each of the following:
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a situation in which you led a team to the successful completion of a challenging project
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how you handled an organizational crisis
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how you handled a difficult situation with an employee
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Describe how you have built and maintained alliances in the past. What kind of alliances have you been involved with and what were the results?
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How have you found the concepts and tools of systems thinking and organizational learning useful in your own work and life, and how have you applied them in past positions?
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Describe in detail your experience with conferences, publications, and new media technology. How do you see a small company thriving in these markets?
Also include the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses for three current references. Email your complete packet as a Microsoft Word file to hiring@pegasuscom.com.
Selected candidates will be invited to participate in a phone interview with members of the search committee. Final candidates will come to the Pegasus office for a round of interviews with staff and board members. Phone interviews with selected candidates will begin in late May/early June.
The position will remain open until the right person is found; however, the goal is to have the new president hired by August 1 and to start by September 1, 2008.
Pegasus Communications is an equal opportunity employer. The president's compensation will be an individually negotiated package of salary, stock, benefits (including insurance, sabbaticals, etc.), and possible flexible-time arrangements, estimated to be in the range of $100,000.
You are invited to learn more about Pegasus Communications at www.pegasuscom.com and www.thesystemsthinker.com. |
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