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Innovation Is the Key: Lucinda Kasperson, WG'53
By Kate Campbell
Lucinda Kasperson, WG'53, often thinks about a favorite aunt
who worked until age 100. That familial drive, she says, still
inspires her in her own vibrant life, career, and international
charity work.
"The principles of banking I learned fifty years ago are still
valid in 2003," says Kasperson, whose wide-ranging careers
included roles as a researcher, economist, educator,
politician, computer consultant, and, most recently, banker in
Bosnia.
"The flexibility to accept new challenges came from my
Wharton training," says Kasperson, who graduated from
Mount Holy Oak with a degree in math and economics before
arriving at the School. "I love installing computer systems,
diagnosing problems, and teaching customers how to use
them. It keeps me in touch with the current technology and is
a link to the next generations. The key to life as in business is
innovation of process or product."
At Wharton, Kasperson majored in finance and dreamed of
working as a bank loan officer after graduation. "But they
didn't hire women for those jobs then," says Kasperson, who
is married to Richard (Dick) Kasperson. They have two sons.
Her career began with the National Association of Bank
Loan Officers as a research officer for Robert Morris
Associates. Three years in the research department of the
Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago followed. After her children
were born, Kasperson taught as a professor of economics at
Loyola University in Chicago for eight years.
"My education at Wharton had a great deal to do with
nearly all of these careers," she says. "The teaching of
research skills was paramount as a basis for all of them. This
enabled me to be elected to public office, to assist my
children with their needs, and to obtain positions of
responsibility in business and education."
Kasperson was elected Village President (Mayor) of her
Northbrook, Illinois, community, serving from 1981 to 1985.
She's been a part of the city council there for 18 years. Along
with her public service stateside, Kasperson has been
involved in an international project that included setting up a
special residence for young women of a hill tribe in northern
Thailand so that they can attend high school. She and her
husband have traveled to 64 countries, 39 in the last three
years.
In 1987, Kasperson formed a computer consulting firm.
When one of her customers learned of her background in
finance, Kasperson was asked to help start a bank in
Bijeljina, Bosnia. She jumped at the chance and arrived in
Bosnia in August 2001 and stayed for nearly a year. "I was
president of the bank and worked full time with my own
translator," says Kasperson. The 113-year-old Semberska
Bank was the first to be privatized in Bosnia. "It was a
treasure and wonderful to be in another country where the
people were so passionate," she adds.
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