Larry Califano

Larry Califano Vice President, Marketing & Operations, Baume & Mercier North America

The Swiss Connection

Being an American senior executive in a venerable Swiss time piece company has been a thoroughly unique experience for our Larry Califano. While in the EMBA program Larry was a staunch disciple of the trade theories of Ricardo and global trade theory formulated by Roberts and Bhagwati.

After he graduated, in spite of a heavy European travel schedule, Larry volunteered his time and effort to became one of the major catalysts responsible for energizing the Rutgers Executive MBA alumni organization. Here is his story in his own words:

"My experience at Rutgers brought me personal growth. I see myself as a more well rounded and balanced individual today, and I think that much of that has to do with my Rutgers EMBA experience.

I work for Richemont, the second largest luxury group in the world, as Vice President of Marketing & Operations for Baume & Mercier a 175 year old maison of luxury time pieces. I have always been a life-long learner, but I realized that if I wanted to elevate my professional career I needed to increase my knowledge of finance and accounting. That’s where Rutgers EMBA comes in. Applying classroom learning to real world business situations is what you get from the program. Utilizing frameworks learned in Advanced Finance, Strategic Marketing and Operations Management, allowed me to develop a strategic plan for my business unit that was innovative, and uniquely different. Moreover, my ability to calculate and present discount cash flow models to the most senior executives in our organization is what makes an idea credible and worthy of consideration.

After completing my Rutgers EMBA education, I have a wider breadth of knowledge to draw from, and I am significantly more confident and efficient in working with departments outside of my area of specialty. Now, when I work with other departments, my improved understanding of context has lead to an acumen that has simply made me more productive.

The fact that I worked and went to school at the same time defines me as someone who has a drive to achieve. That said, having increased my visibility with senior management, I was recently appointed, by our Chief Operating Officer, as project manager for the implementation of SAP as our new management information system.

In looking back, I arrived at Rutgers as a stranger seeking knowledge. In the end you leave enlightened with your fellow brethren and newly formed life-long friendships. Without question, the Rutgers EMBA program was one of the best and most rewarding experiences of my long life."