Thomas G. Stemberg Quotes

Of course, losing my father was traumatic. I was an only child. But from the time my father died, my general theme in life has been to turn adversity into opportunity.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

One of the people who most influenced me was Ben Shapiro, a marketing professor at the business school. He used to rant and rave and pound his fist: 'It's all about the customers!' And he was right. He was also right that, at that time, retailing was devoid of really talented people; he urged me to go in that direction.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

At the Harvard Business School, I really felt I had gained the ability to resolve difficult issues. But I also felt that I wasn't in the mainstream with my fellow students. During job-hunting season, for example, everybody shaved their beards for interviews. I thought, 'This is crazy.' So I grew a beard.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Forget 'branding' and 'positioning.' Once you understand customer behavior, everything else falls into place.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

After 25 years in business, Mitt Romney understands how jobs come and go, and what we need to do to get our economy back on track.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

If a customer walks out without shoes, you really want to find out why. 'It didn't fit' is not good enough.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

The role of private equity as fiduciaries is certainly to make money.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

When a company goes bankrupt, you as a company have absolutely no say whatsoever as to what happens.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Some of the best opportunities in the world are the most obvious ones.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Typically you see the home office think up some great program but doesn't think through implementation at the store level.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

I'm sure that being an applicant from the American School in Vienna helped get me into all seven colleges I applied to.

- Thomas G. Stemberg