Neel Mehta
At the recent 2010 Annual Greater Washington U.S. Government Contractor Awards, two companies who took home the biggest honors know what it takes to succeed ““ and not just in terms of the bottom line.
As the winning companies. Booz Allen Hamilton and CGI know, community focus and employee engagement are essential to their future.
Ralph Shrader, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Booz Allen Hamilton, won Executive of the Year for companies worth more than $300 million. His company has asked him to extend his tenure as CEO twice since he was elected in 1998 ““ a vote of confidence, if there was any.
Shrader has a unique philosophy about leadership, emphasizing cultivation of those he manages rather than getting to the next rung in the ladder.
“Agile leaders are not narrowly fixated on the straight-ahead,“ Shrader said in a speech at The Conference Board’s Leadership Development Conference held in New York. “They turn around ““ they focus on what“™s behind them, and what“™s beside them. This 360-degree perspective and commitment is essential to the development and progression of future leaders“¦ and their successors.“
CGI won the Contractor of the Year Award for companies making more than $300 million in revenue. The company is known for its vigorous corporate social responsibility measures, such as matching employee donations dollar for dollar during the Gulf oil spill. This year, CGI and employee donations totaled $45,000, which was given to the Bay Area Food Bank, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the National Wildlife Federation.
The company is also a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which recognizes companies for their efforts toward balancing corporate, economic, environmental and social interests.
President of CGI Federal George Schindler said he is proud of his team, keeping in mind how difficult ““ yet essential – it is to maintain an equilibrium.
“We are committed to ensuring CGI remains a leader in our industry by continuing our focus on clients, employees, and shareholders,” he said.
