Timothy Duncan ’83

Management

Biography

Tim works with organizations and higher education providing strategy, change management and training in racial conversations. He has owned his own firm since 2009. Tim began his career at Arthur Andersen focused on worldwide implementations, then worked as director of consulting for a small firm doing process workflow and a Partner at CSC focused on financial services management consulting. Tim cofounded the Chicago Business Connection and is active in his church.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

Taylor was a life-changing experience for me. I felt a great deal of support from my residence hall wing and the many friends I made at Taylor. The systems program was foundational to the work I have done in my career. Both my kids and their spouses graduated from Taylor and I continued to be impressed with TU's commitment to faith and learning.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

Bob Gortner and Stan Rotruck provided professional experience that connected me to the business world. Leon Atkinson was ahead of his time in teaching foundational elements of systems that tapped into a more strategic approach to problem-solving.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

One of the most important components to my work is agility. By being multi-disciplined and seeing the bigger picture I am able to help leaders see things that they have been missing. In addition, the importance of building connections with people and caring about their needs makes you unique in the marketplace.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

Be patient, becoming really good at something takes time. Show up on time and when you finish a task ask; "what else can I do?" Be a lifelong learner by identifying how you best learn. Be willing to take risks, this gets harder the older you get.