Howard Milstein on Bringing Private Sector Experience to Civic Leadership in ‘Leaders’ Magazine

April 8th, 2013

Howard Milstein was interviewed by Leaders, a magazine that presents the broad range of leadership thoughts and visions of the world’s most influential people, about how he has brought his leadership experience in the private sector to many civic and philanthropic organizations. A recent example was in his role as Chairman of the New York State Thruway Authority, leading the historic procurement process for the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge. “When business leaders apply their knowledge and experience to philanthropic and civic affairs, the results can be truly historic,” Howard says. “With Governor Cuomo’s leadership and support, we were able to negotiate a design-build contract for the Tappan Zee that came in nearly $2 billion under budget.  … By offering leadership based on knowledge and experience, business leaders can deliver real value, not just in dollars and cents, but also in terms of positive societal impact.” Howard was recently recognized by the Regional Plan Association with its Lifetime Leadership Award for his extraordinary contributions to New York and the Region.

Howard also discusses the Milstein Symposium: Ideas for a New American Century at the University of Virginia, support of the American Museum of Natural History, and the Howard and Abby Milstein Foundation’s primary sponsorship of three programs on public television: Shakespeare Uncovered, Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross, and Simon Schama’s The Story of the Jews and the Fate of the World. “Arts, history, and culture are the building blocks of wisdom, citizenship, and responsible participation in American democracy,” Howard says, “so it is vital that cultural and educational resources be available to all. It is one of the pillars of American excellence and, therefore, a key focus for us.”

Click here to read the interview in Leaders magazine.


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