David Holmberg, Distinguished Alumni 2003
David Holmberg has honed his business savvy in top jobs at Zale Corporation and at the Cole National Corporation. At the Irving-based Zale, he moved from executive vice president of store operations to president of the jeweler's 175-store Canadian chain. For the Cleveland-based Cole, he is president of Cole Licensed Brands, a retail optical business that operates in more than 1,200 outlets for Sears Optical, Target Optical, BJ's Wholesale Clubs, Pearle Vision Canada and Sears Optical Canada.
And although the boardroom of the $500 million optical retailer is a different world than the classrooms at The University of Texas at Dallas, the business principles adhered to are all the same.
"My educational experience expanded my ability to look at complex issues, weigh the alternatives, and [then] back up my intuitive decision-making skills with a disciplined analysis of the problem," explains the Ohio native.
That problem-solving ability has repeatedly proven to be a useful tool, but it is one he did not foresee putting into play when he signed up for The School of Management's Executive MBA Program in September 1998. At the time, Mr. Holmberg was a senior vice president for Zale, and the economy was booming.
"During my interview for the EMBA Program I told [Associate Dean for Executive Education] David Springate that while I was doing well at Zale and the economy was very robust, I felt [that] was the time to invest in my career by going back to school. I believed the EMBA Program would fill in the gaps and better prepare me for the next business cycle, which I suspected would be as exciting as the [one that ended in the] late '90s."
Mr. Holmberg's instincts and timing could not have been more accurate. Even before he had completed the program, he was named president of Peoples Jewellers, a privately owned Canadian chain that Zale Corporation acquired, and he implemented many of the principles he was learning at UTD into the company's plans and procedures.
Through his efforts, he was able to cut costs and boost efficiency, leading to greater savings and profits for his employer.
"The timing of our graduation in spring 2000 could not have been any better," he says. "I finished my degree with a whole new set of skills."
Those new skills enabled him to complete a successful acquisition for Zale Corporation, and his abilities as a forward-thinking leader caught the eye of Cole Licensed Brands. Even as the economy seriously sagged, Cole recruited him for its top post.
One key to his success then and now has been a keen eye for solving problems. "Someone once told me that how a person looks at a problem and what steps they take in coming up with a solution is far more important than what their final answer will be," he points out.
As he continues to cultivate his business skills, Mr. Holmberg remains grateful for the opportunities he discovered at UTD and encourages others to work toward their goals, regardless of what is occurring at the present time.
"Don't wait until a door has opened in front of you to work on your skills, he says. "Managing your career means taking calculated' risks, so preparing in advance can help you recognize which doors to open and which to walk away from."
In addition to planning ahead, Mr. Holmberg is a firm believer in giving back.
"Don't underestimate the importance of helping other people succeed and what it can mean to your career," he says. "Being a good mentor, classmate or peer is the right thing to do, but many of the opportunities that come your way will be an outcome of helping others."
-- Management Vol. 7 No. 1 Autumn 2003, by Paula Felps
