Denise Pirrotti Hummel is the CEO and chief strategist for Universal Consensus LLC , a cross-cultural management consulting fi rm in San Diego, serving Fortune 100 companies, government, military operations, and global organizations worldwide. The company focuses on leveraging knowledge of cultural differences to develop and implement strategies designed to drive revenue and reduce cost and risk when doing business globally. The model developed by Ms. Hummel, The Business Model of Intercultural Analysis [BMIA] has been acknowledged by the U.S. State Department , and the U.S. Department of Commerce . Recent partnerships with Aon Hewitt ’s International M&A division and Deloitte ’s Global HR division have augmented the company’s ability to serve clients in every function and country of the globe. http://www.universalconsensus.com/

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EXECUTIVE PROFILE Denise Pirrotti Hummel
Denise Pirrotti Hummel is the Pet peeves: Flight delays, incompe-
CEO and chief strategist for Univer- tence, intolerance, and arrogance.
sal Consensus LLC, a cross-cultural Most important lesson learned: That
management consulting firm in San RESUME the best results are achieved by free-
Diego, serving Fortune 100 companies, Name: Denise Pirrotti Hummel. ing others (whether they are staff or
government, military operations, and Company: Universal Consensus clients) to use their unique talents to
global organizations worldwide. The LLC. move their organizations forward in a
company focuses on leveraging knowl- Titles: CEO and chief strategist. positive direction.
edge of cultural differences to develop No. of employees: Eight in San Person most interested in meeting:
and implement strategies designed Diego and forty-five worldwide. Geert Hofstede, the Dutch anthropolo-
to drive revenue and reduce cost and Year founded: 2009. gist whose work in the 1970s and ’80s
risk when doing business globally. The Education: Bachelor’s in psy- was groundbreaking in its ability to
model developed by Ms. Hummel, The chology from Barnard College, speak to cultural attributes that can
Business Model of Intercultural Analy- Columbia University, 1983; Doc- impact business objectives.
sis [BMIA] has been acknowledged by tor of Jurisprudence, American Three greatest passions: My work,
the U.S. State Department, and the University, 1987. my children, meeting others who have
U.S. Department of Commerce. Recent Birthplace: New York City. significantly diverse life experience
partnerships with Aon Hewitt’s Inter- Current residence: Carlsbad. from mine.
national M&A division and Deloitte’s Family: Two children: Matthew First choice for a new career: Abso-
Global HR division have augmented Josef Hummel and Alexander lutely nothing different from what I do
the company’s ability to serve clients Paul Hummel. now. It’s so fulfilling, it’s a sin to call it
in every function and country of the work.
globe. Favorite quote: “Other cultures are
not failed attempts at being you; they
BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY Understand that a global economy TRUE CONFESSIONS are unique manifestations of the hu-
Essential business philosophy: “Never, is here to stay, but don’t rest on stale What you like best about your job: man spirit,” — Wade Davis.
never, never give up” is something that information about what the actual When I was an attorney, I always Most influential book: “Flawless
everyone heard from me, from my staff opportunity is in your foreign target felt I was part of the problem, rather Consulting,” by Peter Block.
to my children to my clients. When you markets. The global economy is evolv- than part of the solution. I like be- Favorite restaurant: Bella Napoli,
know you have a value proposition that ing. Emerging markets that once had ing part of the solution. I like the fact Varese, Italy.
is essential, albeit ahead of its time, you utility because they fostered inexpen- that every single day a new challenge Favorite place for business meetings:
must find a way for your target market sive manufacturing are now some of presents itself and I can be intellectu- The Lodge at Torrey Pines.
to “hear” you even if you’re telling them the biggest importers of luxury goods. ally stimulated from dawn to dusk. I Favorite vacation spot: Lombardia,
something they don’t want to hear. Geographical markets that once were like the fact that my staff looks like the Tuscana, and Umbria, Italy.
Once they finally do, and allow you to noted for innovation, are struggling United Nations when we’re together. I Favorite way to spend time: Connect-
be part of their success, seek to achieve with barriers to entry, corruption, and like that my clients respect me as much ing with friends and family, travelling
the highest possible results with 100 political suffocation that have led to as I respect them. for pleasure, drinking fine wine, swing-
percent ethics, exceed all their expecta- mass talent exodus. Keep on top of What you like least about your job: ing in a hammock with a clear mind
tions, and your invitation to the party the trends, or ahead of them, by using Jet lag and time zones. Shouldn’t we be (perhaps not all simultaneously).
will be extended beyond one night. professional instinct and sound data to able to teleport by now?
Best way to keep a competitive edge: guide your strategic focus.
Guiding principles: There is no
substitute for honesty and hard work.
There’s also no such thing as luck
UPCOMING — luck is simply the nexus of opportu-
SPECIAL
nity meeting intense preparation.
Yardsticks of success: How close is
REPORTS your current state (professionally or
organizationally) to the desired state
you have strategically set? How often
do your initiatives result in the business
March 25 Wealth Managers results you planned for? How savvy SPONSORED BY
are you at taking the “so what?” out of
April 1 Commercial Leasing Guide
your strategies so that everything you
April 8 Made in San Diego do is geared toward driving revenue or
reducing cost and risk?
April 15 Top 50 Public Cos. Goals yet to be achieved: To cre-
ate repeatable processes, operational
April 22 Insurance and Employee
Benefits efficiency, and professional excellence
based on learning from every misstep
April 29 Technology we make, as well as every success, and March 13, 2013
using that information to turn chal- 11:30 AM Luncheon
May 6 Banking & Finance
lenges into growth opportunities every Hilton San Diego Bayfront
May 13 Interior Design & second of every day.
Construction
JUDGMENT CALLS
May 20 Accounting & Management Best business decision: Turning an
Consulting
idea for a book (which would have been
May 27 Commercial Real Estate a one-off in the public domain) into
Update a business model with proprietary I.P.
that only our clients can benefit from
June 3 Defense & Military and that will sustain us as a company
Economic Report
for the coming decades.
June 10 San Diego Money Worst business decision: Waiting too
many years to turn a dream into reality
June 17 Structures — that I could leverage knowledge of
June 10 Manufacturing and Exports cultural differences into a process that
would optimize the bottom line of all ONLINE REGISTRATION:
Special report topics subject to change. global organizations. www.sdpolicefoundation.org
Please email Stephanie R. Glidden at Mentor: Garry Ridge, CEO of WD-
sglidden@sdbj.com with any questions 40 Co., one of our first clients, who FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER CALL: (619) 232-2130
or ideas regarding the upcoming special taught me that generosity would always THE SAN DIEGO POLICE FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
reports. come back to me if I gave freely and FEDERAL TAX ID NO: 33-0785173
without reservation.
Word that describes you: Intense.