By David C. Wyld, Ph.D.
With 7,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day the vast number of retiring executives will certainly change the look, feel, and culture of every organization’s workforce.
Not every company will change into Facebook-style businesses or 20-something speed-chess playing, video-web-technology visionaries - but we can expect differences. As the baby boomers move out – new age employees will move in creating a new kind of leadership and direction.
But it stands to reason that workers born in the 80’s and 90’s have only so much experience to bring to an organization. Can “today’s thinking” be enough to solve serious enterprise issues at a time when companies and governments are seriously challenged to do more with less?
And, how truly enthused are the retiring execs anyway? Once the novelty of mulching the yard and watching I Love Lucy reruns wears off… will this generation really want to put themselves out to pasture by dismissing their college educations and 30 to 40 years of real-time experience and success?
Not to mention today’s economics – do many of us really have enough money to insure quality of life issues for the short-term as well as the long-term in a pension fund that was set and defined so long ago?
These questions may have all been answered and solved by three baby boomers (and older) who just launched an online marketplace, NuuKo, Inc., for senior executives and government leaders wanting to stay engaged with clients via the consulting route.
The three “over 60s” are nationally-known entrepreneurs and corporate executives: Doug Poretz, an international communications strategist who co-founded and grew DC-based Qorvis Communications to one of the fastest-growing firms in the country; along with George Norsig, a former senior director with McKinsey & Co and Partner at Monitor Group; and Bruce Finland, a television broadcast, real estate, and technology entrepreneur.
The NuuKo business model provides solutions for two groups: it addresses the desire of seasoned individuals to work alone or with others at NuuKo, using the NuuKo marketing platform and tools to engage with clients; and it provides enterprises of all sizes a one-stop location to identify and retain top business talent who will tailor their advice specifically to that organization’s needs quickly and effectively.
The NuuKo community of experts are called ESEs (Enterprise Solutions Experts) and have already attracted formidable talent including Joel Staff, former CEO of Reliant Energy; Dr. Eric Cole, cyber-security guru and author of seven books; and Warren Belmar, former Deputy General Counsel for Policy for President George W. Bush’s U.S. Department of Energy.
The NuuKo model is unique in that it doesn’t approach a client relationship with pre-conceived notions or with a standard template that says “one size fits all.”
The goal is to focus on the client’s specific needs and opportunities with no wasted energy – efficiencies that translate into reasonably priced engagements. For more info on how to engage a NuuKo consultant or how to become one, please visit http://www.nuuko.com.
About the Author:
David C. Wyld (dwyld@selu.edu <mailto:dwyld@selu.edu> ) currently serves as the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern 
Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is the Director of the College of Business’ Strategic e-Commerce/e-Government Initiative and has been an active consultant, a qualified expert witness, and an invited speaker on the strategic management of technology to both trade and academic audiences. 
