When a change initiative is focused on changing a company's culture directly, it can take five to ten years to accomplish its objective. Company cultures don't change easily. My friend Peter Drucker used to argue that company cultures don't change at all.

I think that many people have lost their sense of loyalty to their company. That's because very few companies remain loyal to their people. The old job for life condition disappeared 20 years ago - and nothing has replaced it.

People must know that their ideas will be listened to and, if they have merit, acted upon. If they do, it is possible to mobilize individual creativity on a very broad scale.

Very soon, most companies will need to have a global operating model - even if you only sell locally. Even mid-sized companies will source globally. Knowing how to operate in this environment will be critical. We need to train managers and leaders to become citizens of the world.

Without ambition no conquests are made, and no business created. Ambition is the root of all achievement.