Eberhardt School of Business News

(November 17, 2008) -

Douglass M. Eberhardt BUS ’59, namesake for the Eberhardt School of Business, shares memories from Pacific and business insight in this exclusive interview with Strictly Business (SB). Eberhardt is chairman of the board for the 1867 Western Financial Corporation, president and CEO of the Bank of Stockton, and a member of the Board of Regents for Pacific. He was recently honored as Stocktonian of the Year. As a philanthropist, hunter and banking executive, he is committed to staying on the leading edge.

SB: What makes you feel connected to the Eberhardt School?
DE: The name! But seriously, our family has been connected to the school for years. My brother, Bob, my son, Doug, my daughter Joan and I all graduated from Pacific. In addition to the five of us that have graduated from the School of Business, 10 members of the Eberhardt family have attended Pacific.

SB: What was your most memorable experience at Pacific?
DE: I’ve had many memorable experiences at Pacific, from athletics, to fraternities, to the Pacific community. One highlight was playing a water polo match against the U.S. Olympic Team in the coliseum in L.A and then later another match against the Romanian Olympic Water Polo team. Another was receiving my diploma at graduation from my father, who was a member of the Board of Regents.

SB: Did you always know you would be in the banking field, or had you considered other careers besides business?
DE: At one time, I thought I might want to be a doctor, but I changed my mind in high school and decided that I was more interested in a career in business. Most of the summer jobs I held were business-related. When I began working for a bank, I became very interested in pursuing a career in banking.

SB: What advice would you give a business student about to graduate?
DE: You have just started your educational experience! Despite what most graduates think, you still do not know it all. It is extremely important that students understand that neither they, nor I, will ever know it all. A degree provides you with the foundation to be successful, but the real learning begins once you graduate.

SB: Why is real world learning important?
DE: Attending the Business School and the University is a wonderful educational experience that trains you to research information, be resourceful, recommend options to problem resolution and hypothetically, find the best solution. There is nothing like real world experience where someone is depending on you to get something done, where there will be a positive or negative outcome as a result of your recommendation. Real world learning takes over where the books leave off. School is just a small part of your educational cycle. Don’t ever think that after graduation you stop learning. Most of your knowledge is accumulated after you graduate.

SB: Are there any skills/tactics used in hunting that you can transfer to the professional arena?
DE: The skills and tactics that are required for any sport can be directly applicable to the business world. Competitiveness is a very important part of Emotional Intelligence. You have to want to succeed and push ahead to be a leader.

SB: What sets the Eberhardt School apart from other business schools?
DE: While working in San Francisco and New York, the education I received at Pacific enabled me to compete with the best graduates from the best schools in this country. This point was restated by my son, Doug, when he was working in New York. The Eberhardt School’s smaller classes and personal interchange between the professors and the students, allows students to challenge their thoughts, forcing them to think outside of the box. It’s a two-way learning experience, opposed to sitting in a lecture hall with 300 students where the teacher doesn’t know your name.

SB: What makes a good leader?
DE: A good leader must listen, have empathy, create plans and instill the goals necessary for the business to be successful. A good leader not only needs to have vision, but needs to be able to recognize new opportunities that may arise for his or her company. In addition, a good leader must be active in the community and devote time to community service.

SB: How do you stay on the leading edge?
DE: You must have an open mind and adapt new technology when you think it will provide a competitive advantage. Staying on the leading edge involves many aspects. As a leader, you must be very careful that you don’t fall into the trap of becoming complacent. The world moves at a very fast pace, and being ahead of the rest is critical to success.

SB: If you had to summarize the Eberhardt School in one word, what would it be and why?
DE: I would use two words: Emotional Intelligence. The Eberhardt School is beginning to recognize leadership potential through Emotional Intelligence, which involves more than grades. It takes into account other aspects of a student’s development by broadening the their capabilities and chances of success in the real world. Things such as personality traits, competitiveness and desire to succeed are all part of the Emotional Intelligence factor.

SB: To what do you attribute your successes?
DE: Hard work. I have never experienced a traditional 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. job. To be successful, you must be dedicated, and willing to continue your learning experience beyond graduation. It is important to pursue anything and everything related to the various aspects of your field. There are always new technologies that revolutionize the way we do things, as well as new products and services that will be developed for business, based on changing consumer needs. Success is a combination of many things – working hard, continuing to learn, and staying ahead of the competition to differentiate your business.

SB: How do you blend old-fashioned service with modern technology?
DE: Well, I’ve never met a banker who said they didn’t provide great service to their customers, even though their offerings on the technological side may be very short-sighted. The word “service” has almost become an over-used commodity in the business world. Many use the word as a factor to try to differentiate themselves from their competitors, even when they don’t provide it. Modern technology enables a business to deliver new products that consumers will want and that can be considered a part of old-fashioned service. My belief is that technology doesn’t replace old-fashioned service; rather, it is an ‘extension’ of service.

SB: Has a customer ever said something to you that you will never forget? What is it?
DE: If you want to double your money, just fold it in half!

SB: Are there any activities, besides Men’s Water Polo, that you were involved in at Pacific?
DE: While at Pacific, I was a competitive skier, in addition to being very active in hunting, fishing, scuba diving and just having a great time. I was also very involved, on campus and off campus, doing things that I enjoyed, from fraternity life to the classroom, to outings with my father and brother, Bob. I thoroughly enjoyed my college experience, leaving no stone unturned!

SB: Looking back on your career, how would you summarize it in one word?
DE: Invigorating. I’ve chosen an industry (banking) that is continually challenging to master, because it is constantly changing and evolving. With regulations, competition, increased customer sophistication and emerging technologies, banking is an industry where you can’t rest on your laurels. You have to stay one step ahead in order to compete.

SB: What makes you most happy?
DE: Having a great family and a lot of friends. I particularly enjoy spending time with my wife, Margie, my children, Doug, his wife, Deanna, Joan and her husband, Kevin Snider along with my two granddaughters, Allison Eberhardt (5) and MacKenzie Snider (3). We travel together and do things as a family. I also enjoy my many friends, many from different walks of life. My family and friends have truly enriched my life.

SB: What makes a community?
DE: Some of my most wonderful experiences and personal relationships have come from being involved in various community and philanthropic projects, where I have met very interesting people, been exposed to diverse ideas, different cultures and challenging problems. Anyone involved in business needs to be involved in their community in order to make it a better place in which to live and work.

SB: Is leadership learned, or are you born with it?
DE: I think it is learned, but I believe it starts at a very young age, when as a child, you are exposed to relationships with your elders, learning respect, responsibility and accountability. A long time ago, we were taught right from wrong, learning that our personal integrity and reputation are ours to develop and protect. As you grow, you learn to have empathy for your family and your friends, which is an important attribute of being a good leader. Getting involved in sports or academics and competing to be the best, either against others or against your personal best, develops a competitive spirit that is vital to being a leader. Many components and experiences shape a person to reach their leadership potential.

SB: Who has been the greatest influence on your life and your career?
DE: The greatest influence on my life and my career were my father and mother. Both were involved in my upbringing and education; however, once I decided on a banking career, my father was heavily involved - not only teaching me, but advising me along the way, to help me gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become a leader. He taught me that character and integrity are invaluable. Not all problems or challenges have a simple black or white answer. Never give up if the answer is not staring you in the face. Don’t be afraid to find the gray area, but most importantly, never compromise your ethical standards.

 Strictly Business Fall 2008 Issue