Wyler Honored As International Studies Fellow

UC's College of Business Administration named Joel Wyler, co-owner of Granaria Holdings B.V., as its first Global Business Leadership Fellow at a ceremony Tuesday evening, Aug. 28, in Amsterdam.

Norman Baker, director of the college's Honors-PLUS Scholars program, presented a framed certificate bearing Wyler's new title on behalf of CBA Dean Fritz Russ.

The honor recognizes Wyler's assistance to CBA in arranging the European tour that is now giving 19 Honors-PLUS juniors a first-hand look at 13 companies, plus NATO, the European Union and Parliament headquarters.

Wyler was particularly instrumental in making possible the students' visits to six companies in the Netherlands. The 32-day Honors-PLUS study trip also includes three other countries: Finland, Belgium and France.

In addition to helping arrange the trip's itinerary, Wyler spent four hours with the young scholars himself, hosting an Italian dinner for them in Amsterdam.

He spent the evening getting to know the students, asking about their future plans and sharing stories from his own experiences. He brought along Dutch venture capitalist Macko Laqueur to give the students a business perspective that contrasts somewhat to the large companies they are visiting.

The students listened attentively to everything he had to say. Among them was Jay Hummel. "I didn't want to miss a word, because someday when you think back on it might mean the difference in your career."

Wyler urged the students never to avoid speaking out about difficult topics within their workplaces. He told them problems need to be identified before they can be resolved, rather than ignored. "If there is a time in your life when you think it's embarrassing to say something, say it anyway."

He expressed his approval at the class' willingness to venture abroad and learn about other cultures. He encouraged the 21- and 22-year-olds to try different jobs before settling down a long-term career path. "You have to allow yourself to have time to know more about yourself," he suggested.

With co-op a mandatory part of the Honors-PLUS program, many of the students have already begun to put that recommendation into practice. Wyler himself tried a variety of jobs before settling into his family's business, which was founded in 1912 by his grandfather, Louis, as a grain trading company. In 1980, Joel Wyler and his brother Danny, sold the trading company and today Granaria holds controlling interests in several industrial companies and investments in venture capital and real estate. The Granaria Group employs more than 7,500 people worldwide. Mr. Wyler provided students with samples from the company's nut businesses.

Wyler concluded the evening by saying he was heartened by his meeting with the students. "I see a whole group of people who are willing and eager to look at themselves and that is very, very encouraging."

In turn the students thanked Wyler for his generosity. Zach Osborne presented a gift, saying "We are extremely grateful for what you set up here." Osborne then added: "Plus it's probably the best we've eaten the whole trip... probably the best we've eaten at home, too."