A Living Case Study in Gary DiCamillo’s Classroom
Gary DiCamillo and MBA students from Managing in Turnaround Companies
Gary DiCamillo is no stranger to turnaround management—in fact, in his 40 year career he has shepherded multiple companies through turnarounds.
Outside the boardroom, DiCamillo is a Babson trustee, Chairman of the College’s Finance Committee, and an adjunct lecturer in the graduate school. For the past several years, DiCamillo has taught Managing in Turnaround Companies, a case-based class that explores the turnarounds of familiar organizations.
Last month, DiCamillo invited former colleagues from Polaroid to join his evening class for a panel discussion of the Polaroid case. DiCamillo was Polaroid’s Chairman and CEO during its restructuring in the late 90s, and members of his senior leadership team fielded questions from students about the company’s strategy and decisions during that time.
MBA students had the rare opportunity to interact with the figures they’d studied from the Polaroid case, and enjoyed a rich panel discussion. Asked if they’d like a do-over, many of the Polaroid executives wished they’d made decisions more quickly. Students came prepared and weren’t shy to question the executives, leading to a memorable class experience for all.