Jacques Boisvert was a legendary figure in the pharmaceutical industry; reputedly the youngest senior appointment for a major company when he became Director of Marketing for Ayerst Pharmaceuticals in the mid 1970’s at around age 32 (a virtual geriatric case by today’s standards, but unheard of then). He went on to a number of top-level positions including President of Bristol Myers Squibb Canada (again, I believe, the youngest ever). Jacques had given me my first corporate job back in 1978 and we kept in touch sporadically over the years from his various international and local assignments. About 7 years ago I got an appointment with him (he was General Manager, Novopharm Quebec) in order to discuss some possible business collaboration. I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years, but he looked fit and youthful as ever, despite his 60 years (he continued to play very serious hockey in a “midnight” league).
After being received by his secretary I was shown into his cavernous office, where Jacques was sitting at his great expanse of a mahogany desk….without a shred of paper, or anything else on it, not even a computer. After chit-chatting and reminiscing a little, I teased him about the absence of a computer….extolling its virtues as an indispensable tool. He responded that everyone was on his back to get one and that he had finally relented and they would be installing it shortly.
About a week later, I saw him again as a follow-up to our earlier meeting and there it was…a brand new state-of the-art system with all the bells and whistles. Jacques was working at it, but he was obviously not happy. When I complemented him on his new acquisition he just grunted and then faced me to talk about business. He loved to talk and share his ideas.
A month later, there I was again in his office, presenting some ideas regarding our collaboration. But something had changed. There was no computer, and his desk was once again an impeccable and stark slab of highly-polished wood. “Hey, what happened to the computer?” I asked. He gave me a very earnest look, and said:
“The computer was great and it taught me a very important lesson. It helped me realize what my true role is in this organization as its leader…and it isn’t working on a computer. My job is very simple. I am there to vision the future and to inspire others to help fulfill it. Anything that distracts from that must go”.
I have reflected on that answer all these years and I can say that it was one of the most important Leadership lessons I learned over my career. Of course, the underlying message that less can be more if it is properly aligned with your life objectives and value system is the theme I will continue to explore in 2008.
Sadly Jacques passed away a couple of years ago from cancer at around age 65.