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29 CREATING VALUE ISSUE TWO the building’s tenants, including established companies, startups, and research laboratories. A number of international companies have research offices at the Global Water Center, confirming Porter’s prediction that a regional network of specialized expertise will attract growth. The decision of the European-based International Water Association to hold its annual meeting this year in conjunction with the Council’s annual Water Summit further confirmed Milwaukee’s premier position as a World Water Hub. “Today’s students want to contribute their talents to something that matters when they graduate, and the universities realize they need to work more closely with business to make sure they’re educating students to make an impact on real world needs.” The Water Council has proven to be a magnet for engineering and other technical talent. As a business leader who routinely interacts with engineering students and professors, Meeusen didn’t hesitate when asked what advice he might give to each. “Young people in America are more open to taking risks and developing their ideas than anywhere else in the world,” he notes, “but they are often so focused on what they’ve developed that they lack the big picture. To broaden their horizons, I urge them to make the most of their electives, taking courses in marketing, accounting, and other business-related subjects. In any company, they’re going to be working with people in those areas, so having at least some appreciation for what they do is very important.” Developing a network of personal and professional contacts can also be extremely valuable, Meeusen contends, but realizing its full value comes through helping others. “It’s not what you know – and it’s not who you know,” he says. “It’s what you do for who you know. The way you build a network and develop relationships is to inspire and to help other people, who will naturally be inclined to help you in the future. You need to be out there all the time – meeting people, working with them, and constantly asking questions and finding ways to connect. This is not something that happens overnight, but is a persistent investment of time and energy.” Meeusen’s recommendation to faculty is to always be looking for ways to engage the business community, especially in manufacturing. “The needs of businesses change over time and if professors aren’t aware of those changes, they’re not fully preparing their students for what industry needs.” He believes the mission of the university is to prepare and provide the entrepreneurial talent to companies – both large and small – so that engineering graduates can hit the ground running. “Water issues are already a critical concern in many regions of the world,” Meeusen emphasizes, “so that sense of urgency will only increase in the future. As the speed of technology continues to accelerate, we’ll need entrepreneurial engineers who can recognize unexpected opportunities and develop innovative solutions.” A $500,000 flow calibration test, donated by Badger Meter, is free for all Water Council tenants to use. CREATING VALUE