I can appreciate Hugo Schwyser’s thoughts here regarding the “old boys’ network (OBN).” Being very fair-skinned, many assume I’m not Latino. Hence, my interactions with some corporate peers early in my career provided many “fly on the wall” moments. It was a fascinating opportunity. Once the secret was out so were the exclusive happy hour and dinner invitations.
The OBN, unfortunately, is still alive and well:
Whether they’re found in corporations or athletic departments or churches, Old Boys’ Networks often tend to be characterized by three things: an insistence on intense loyalty to the organization, a disdain for outsiders, and a systematic process by which younger men (but rarely young women) are groomed by older ones for future leadership.
