Harlan Steinbaum, former chairman of Express Scripts, will discuss his book, “Tough Calls from the Corner Office” May 3 at UMSL.
Harlan Steinbaum knows a thing or two about tough calls. A businessman for more than 20 years, he has made thousands of hard decisions, but one call became his career-defining moment.
Steinbaum, former chairman of Express Scripts, will discuss that moment and his new book based on his experiences, “Tough Calls from the Corner Office,” at 8 a.m. May 3 in the Student Government Association Chamber in the Millennium Student Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
He had a long and successful career in business as an innovator and leading executive in the retail drug industry. Steinbaum was chairman and chief executive officer of Medicare-Glaser, a large retail pharmacy chain in the United States. In 1972, he sold his company to Pet Inc. with the hope of growing it more. He stayed on as group president, but wasn’t happy with the company’s direction. In a completely unorthodox business move, he negotiated to buy back the company – a decision that became his greatest and toughest call as an executive.
Under his leadership in 1982, Medicare-Glaser went on to become a public-listed company on Nasdaq. In 1986, Medicare-Glaser and GenCare joined together to form Express Scripts, a Fortune 500 company. He served as the first chairman and CEO of Express Scripts until retiring in 1989.
“Tough Calls from the Corner Office” chronicles Steinbaum’s experience as well as personal stories from other top business executives about the single most important business decision made during their careers
Copies of “Tough Calls from the Corner Office” will be available for purchase and signing. The discussion is part of the monthly Breakfast & Business Series sponsored by UMSL’s College of Business Administration.
Breakfast and networking will begin at 7:30 a.m. The discussion will follow. The event is free and open to the public. The Millennium Student Center is on UMSL’s North Campus, 1 University Blvd. (63121). Reservations are required. Call 314-516-5883 or e-mail jane_ferrell@umsl.edu to reserve a spot.
