China
challenge fuels alum's passion for innovation
By
Sandra Guy
Brad
Peacock
asked his boss for an opportunity to work in China because
he wanted to be "where the action is." Such a dramatic
leap is emblematic of the 37-year-old Peacock's fascination
with the bigger world and its complexities.
As
an undergraduate at DePauw University, Peacock '98 left
a pre-medicine academic track to pursue a degree in philosophy
and religion because it allowed him to think more broadly
about the world.
Peacock
has found himself trying to stay true to his vision in the
corporate setting too. He helped launch a consulting business
within W.W. Grainger Co. and realized he could advance by
learning more about finance and business.
"I
had zero business training," he recalls. "I had
never taken a finance, accounting or marketing class."
The
Managers' Program at the Kellogg School proved not only a
fine training ground, but a window onto a more expansive world
than Peacock had ever seen. He chose to attend Kellogg because
doing so enabled him to further his career at Grainger while
pursuing an outstanding business education.
"It
was the best of both worlds," he says.
Peacock
maintained his stamina despite his busy schedule because he
was so excited by how much he was learning and the people
with whom he was learning.
"It's
like anything in life: To excel, you've gotta love it,"
he says.
After
graduation, Peacock spent three and a half years with Mercer
Management Consulting before settling at fiberglass-insulation
maker Owens Corning in Toledo, Ohio.
He
put his business skills, and his philosophical insights, to
work rebuilding Owens Corning's strategic planning process
as the company climbed out of a litigation-fueled bankruptcy.
In
October 2003, Peacock's boss asked him what he wanted to do
next. The Kellogg graduate jumped at the opportunity
to go to Asia to help lead Owens Corning's next
phase of growth and investment in the region.
Peacock
arrived in China in April 2004 with his family in tow. As
director of business development, he oversees the firm's evolution from
product manufacturer to solutions developer, expanding the
company's expertise into energy-efficient building design,
installation, testing analysis and construction management.
Peacock
credits the breadth of studies and the diversity of the faculty
and student body in The Managers' Program for opening his
eyes to the world's social challenges and giving him a perspective
that is critical to operating a successful business in China.
He
is also "thrilled at the opportunity for my children
to spend part of their lives growing up in this amazing place
[which promises to have] a rich future. For my career, I am
motivated and humbled by the opportunity to be a part of solving
China's and the world's energy challenges.
"There's
just no more exciting place to be in the world right now —
personally or professionally."
