William "Gus" Pagonis
William G. “Gus” Pagonis is the author of Moving Mountains: Lessons in Leadership and Logistics from the Gulf War, published by Harvard Business School Press. Now retired, three-star US Army General Gus Pagonis masterminded logistics for the 1991 Gulf War, earning accolades from General Norman Schwarzkopf. In 1993, he left the military and took his logistics magic to Sears, Roebuck and Co., where as executive vice president of Sears Logistics Group, he played a key role in transforming the retail giant.
But whether in war or business, Pagonis believes that leadership is nothing more than the art of influencing others to achieve desired results. Yet, this simple procedure of influencing seems to be a dying art. The country is always searching for leaders in government and the corporate world to take organizations and individuals to new heights. Pagonis discusses this leadership shortfall and offers leadership practices and management techniques he has employed in his careers that achieved desired results for organizations he has led. He also discusses two models he has developed to promote corporate success by tapping the last business frontier- Logistics & Leadership. His ‘Logistics Pentagon and Three Star Leadership Models’ will provide real world solutions that have been successful in both the military and corporate worlds. His career in both the public and private sectors make him a valuable business speaker. Says Gus Pagonis, “The secret of logistics is never to lose sight of who the customer is.”
TOPICS
Leadership in the Supply Chain
William Pagonis discusses the Supply Chain – the last frontier for cost take-out and a way to provide better customer service. This presentation discusses the overall supply chain concept and its tailored implements, and demonstrates leadership and management techniques that are successful in both the military and civilian life.
Lessons in Leadership
Leadership speaker William Pagonis discusses how he has parlayed the expertise he has acquired in the military in the boardroom. He reminds audiences, “The secret of logistics is never to lose sight of who the customer is,” and he posits that logistics is corporate America’s “last frontier.
Leadership in Religion
General Pagonis presents management tools and techniques to accomplish results in these areas:
• Clergy must recruit volunteers who must be motivated and provided direction to have a successful program.
• Counseling is one of the biggest time consuming efforts of any leaders in any religious field, and General Pagonis will discuss techniques on how to accomplish this effectively.
• Communication is needed both up and down the chain of command. Effective communication is difficult to do but can be developed.
• Good leaders in all disciplines are trained not born.
General Pagonis’ programs are customized around your agenda and needs.
Complete Biography
When it comes to expertise in logistics and overall leadership in management of very complex projects and organizations, few people are better qualified than Gus Pagonis, a retired three-star US Army General. Lieutenant General Pagonis is widely recognized for his logistical achievements particularly during Desert Shield/Storm. After successfully masterminding logistics for the Gulf War and winning high praise from General Norman Schwarzkopf, Pagonis left the Army in 1993 and was elected Executive Vice President of Logistics for Sears Roebuck & Co. As head of the Sears Logistics Group, he functions as the single point of contact for all Sears’ logistics and is responsible for Vendor Relations, Distribution, Transportation, Home Deliveries, Outlet Stores, International Logistics, and the integration of Information Systems to cement it all together.
Sears, dismissed as a dinosaur only a few years ago with its earnings and customer base dwindling, has suddenly become a star of the retailing universe. Pagonis has been one of the key players in the turn around of Sears. He explains, “The secret of logistics is never to lose sight of who the customer is.”
Pagonis has proven himself as a leader within the United States Army as the chief logistician during the Gulf War, and today, in the corporate world, he continues to set new standards for leadership. As he says, “I think Corporate America is waking up to logistics as the last frontier. It’s the place where people can really maneuver to get a competitive edge.”
Leadership is nothing more than the art of influencing others to achieve desired results. Yet, this simple procedure of influencing seems to be a dying art. The country is always searching for leaders in government and the corporate world to take organizations and individuals to new heights.
Pagonis will discuss this leadership shortfall and will offer leadership practices and management techniques he has employed in his careers that achieved desired results for organizations he has led.
Pagonis discusses two models he has developed to promote corporate success by tapping the last business frontier- Logistics & Leadership. His “Logistics Pentagon and Three Star Leadership
Models” will provide real world solutions that have been successful in military and corporate worlds. Solid proven logistics concepts and down to earth leadership techniques that you can select for your
particular leadership style will be discussed in his “Leadership Tool Kit”.
Pagonis is also the author of Moving Mountains: Lessons in Leadership and Logistics from the Gulf
War, published by Harvard Business School Press.
