Mario strives to see all aspects of a business problem: the numbers, the people and the drama of bottom-line performance. You sense his engagement immediately. He listens intently and asks probing questions, seeking to understand a situation from the inside. He understands how the weave of personal relationships and perspectives among leaders and managers influence their ability to make good decisions.

Beginning with the MBA "basics" — a framework of financial, marketing and industry data — Mario works side by side with clients to discover the full range of their options and break down the steps for implementing them. He sees himself as part of this process, a committed yet objective participant.

Mario knows how attitudes, perceptions and values influence action throughout a company or institution. He uses his organization design skills to manage these intangibles, which have a direct bearing on the success and pay-off of any change initiative.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Initiative Design - Knows how to pull together people and resources to support change efforts
• Strategy with Top Teams - Works with leaders and their teams to set direction
• Organizational Development - Builds capabilities that support strategic directions

Recent Projects

• For a national pharmaceutical firm, developed a Web-based marketing tool.
• For a top-tier hospital, advised its clinical department about revenue enhancement and entrepreneurial opportunities.
• For a global investment bank, designed an executive development program.

Professional Facts

MBA from the Wharton School

Ph.D. from the University of Chicago's Committee on Social Thought

Co-director of Essentials of Management Program, Aresty Institute, the Wharton School

Has published widely in the field of social theory

Experienced speaker at conferences throughout North America and Europe

Areas of specialization: strategy, strategy implementation, organizational design, cross-functional teams and change management

Selected Writing

"The Art of Woo: Using Strategic Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas", with G. Richard Shell, October, 2007, Portfolio/Penguin

"The Art of Woo", Arrive, November/December 2008

“Idea Champions”, Associations Now, February 2008

"Selling Ideas to Your Boss: Take Six Steps to Success", Sales & Service Excellence, October 2007

"What Security Executives Should Know About Finance: A Q&A with Wharton's John Percival on How Corporate Financial Needs Meet With Security Department Goals." SecurityinfoWatch.com, July 27, 2006.

"Designing and Enacting Change: Penn Restructures Computing Services." (with L. Oppenheim, L. May and N. Arzt) Presented at CAUSE '96, San Francisco, California. December 1996.

"Paisan with a Ph.D.: An Essay on Identity." Differentia, No. 6 - 7, Spring/Autumn 1994.

"Limited Engagements: Act Your Way to Future Performance." (with L. Oppenheim)