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Allan Freedman

Allan Freedman

NBCOT

Career Roadmap

Allan's work combines: Business, Non-Profit Organizations, and Problem Solving

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Day In The Life

Chief Operating Officer

I help organizations excel!

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Management Science

    University of Maryland

  • Graduate Degree

    Business Administration and Management, General

    Johns Hopkins University

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Chief Executives:

High School

Bachelor's Degree: Management Science

Graduate Degree: Business Administration and Management, General

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    I didn't learn to read when everyone else did. I knew I was stupid.

  • 2.

    I remember the first time I correctly spelled "something" I was so proud I could spell a "big" word.

  • 3.

    School was hard - but not for my honor roll brother - why am I so dumb?

  • 4.

    In eighth grade science my teacher let me do a special report on spiders - she gave me an A - wow!

  • 5.

    In high school I had to write the days across a calendar - everyone laughed when I misspelled them.

  • 6.

    I failed a lot of classes in college until I went part time - than I started to earn A's and B's.

  • 7.

    Several friends couldn't believe I wanted to go to grad school - that made me want to go more.

  • 8.

    The day I raised my hand in grad school and no one else did--the teacher said it was a great answer!

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Myself:

    I once said I believe I was put on this earth to do something really special. And a friend said, that's not likely. "Focus on what you can do, not what you want to do." It was code for "you are not really that capable, so don't think you can do more..."

  • How I responded:

    I ignored it. I am a stubborn person and while I will listen to advice, sometimes, I choose what I will do. Plus when I pick a path, I give it my best effort. I don't say I give it 100%. I don't always have 100% to give. But I always give it my best effort. And people noticed. They might not think I was the most qualified for the job. But they knew I'd find a way to get the job done. And in the end. That's what matters most. Not the how. But that you get it accomplished!

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • I am dyslexic. And I can't learn from textbooks. So I found if I listened in class I could do well on tests. So I sat in the front row of every class. Who cares about being called a nerd or teacher's pet. It was my only way to learn. And I did!