The War for Talent – Olympic Style
Consider this: The only Mexican Winter Olympian in Vancouver is 51 year old Austrian skier, Prince Hubertus of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; pairs skater and Japan native, Yuko Kavaguti, is competing for Russia; American ice dancing siblings, Chris Reed and Cathy Reed, are competing for the Japanese team. There are a handful of other examples in the 2010 Olympic Games of talented athletes that are representing a country that they do not necessarily call home, whether through dual citizenship, marriage or immigration.
What can organizations learn from this? First, that the evening Olympic medal count by country has become as washed out as the “Buy American” slogan. After all, with Kia assembling cars in Georgia and Chevrolet manufacturing in Canada, which is the true U.S. automobile?
Second, that talented people will always have options, regardless of the economy. While thought leaders may debate the extent or existence of a “war for talent” in the current economic climate, this Olympics highlights the fact that talent cannot be confined by borders.
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