Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | December 9, 2019 | Worcester Business Journal 21 Massachusetts must be national leader on immigration Recruit the best V I E W P O I N T E D I T O R I A L T he history of our country has been shaped by immigrants, and Central Massachusetts is no exception. Last year, WBJ teamed with the Worcester Regional Research Bureau to study the impact of the local foreign-born popu- lation on the business community, finding for- eign-born residents have a higher rate of entrepre- neurialism than the native-born population. In this issue's closer look at our region's for- eign-born community, we have found a population slightly more destabilized than in years past, in good part due to political rhetoric and policies. Local firms have long utilized the specialty H-1B visa program, where companies can hire foreign workers in areas when they can't find any domestic workers with the proper skills. Yet, under the President Donald Trump Administration, the application process has gotten more arduous. In November, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, UMass Medical School and Clark University all said they have fewer international students enrolled last school year, compared to 2017-2018, with drops of 2%, 7% and 2%, respectively. Aer releasing a groundbreaking report in 2015 on the impact of foreign-born residents in Worces- ter, the nonprofit Seven Hills Foundation says it already needs to re-examine the issue. While the 2015 report showed the immigrant community has been a significant net positive for the city, the report's authors are concerned changing national attitudes on immigration have changed the effec- tiveness of the foreign-born in Central Mass. I n November, the Hockey Hall of Fame inducted its sev- enth female player, Haley Wickenheiser, at a ceremony in Toronto. By all accounts, Haley is the greatest female hockey player. Now, at 40 years old, she remains humble and gracious to all who played on her team and her opponents. Growing up in Saskatchewan playing on outdoor ponds, her idols included Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. Her teammates were mostly boys, which may have helped develop her explo- sive skating stride, puck strength and tenacity. Gender aside, she simply defined greatness on and off the ice. Gretzky once coined the phrase, "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been." To the chagrin of most every Canadian sportswriter, this phrase has become a business cliché. However, in the case of Haley Wickenheiser, known as Wick, this phrase holds the essence of great athletes and business leaders. It's her vision setting her apart. Business leaders like to think they have a view into the future and aspire to hire visionary recruits to bolster their team and reach the puck before their opponents. In our economic and political environment, it's arguable this view is optimistic, if not hubris. In her acceptance speech, Wick singled out one former influential coach and gratefully praised his class, humor and respect. ese are traits we look for in leadership candidates, and while the top profes- sionals may not know where the puck will be, if they possess class, humor and respect, they'll find it. Wick acknowledged how difficult it was for her as a fe- male athlete in a male-dominated sport. is is an import- ant lesson in business leadership. She gave a shout out to her female Olympic teammates, who won a combined four gold medals together, but who had an even tougher time working through biases. Her parents are from the Czech Republic, and her father was a hockey player in that country. Her competitive nature is reflected in her pride playing for Can- ada. In business, back story and character can count even more than experience listed on a resume. Diversity in the workplace should be a key objective for all businesses, and Wick's accomplishments pay tribute to how extra effort can pay off. Not surprisingly, she hasn't stopped there. She is now pursuing her medical degree. We can all appreciate talent, hard work and determination, but in Wick's case, I can honestly say she shakes my own self-esteem. To finally top her accomplishments, Wick has created e Canadian Tire Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festival, known as Wickfest, which is celebrated its 10th anniversary this November. She has helped the dreams of thousands of female hockey players come true. Vision in true leaders includes humility, and paying it forward. No one looks away from a good story, and Wick's is a compelling one. Not only does her powerful stride, vision and determination make her an obvious choice for the Hockey Hall of Fame, it makes her indispensable to the communities and athletes her vision touches. "e game is truly for everyone," she said during her acceptance speech. ese character traits and vision stand out when searching for great leaders, regardless of gender or industry. Ian MacNeil is a principal with Worcester firm Standish Executive Search. BY IAN MACNEIL Special to the Worcester Business Journal With this national tide of anti-immigration sentiment brewing, it is now more important than ever for the region – and the state – to become a place where immigrants can thrive and reach their potential. Having a debate about immigrants with regional and national unemployment at record lows and so many employers hurting for candidates is nonsensical. With 13 colleges and universities in Central Mass., international students can help a higher education industry suffering from fewer domestic college-age applicants. In Worcester, immigrants comprise 22% of the population but are 36% of its business owners, according to the WBJ study last year. In addition to companies taking advantage of the H-1B visa program to recruit the best foreign talent, immigrants workers are seen as critical to fill the need for employees in the fast- est-growing professions in Massachusetts, as those jobs are typically lower paying and entry level. In order to become a state where immigrants want to pursue the American dream, Massachu- setts needs to do more than hang a Welcome sign on its front door. Schools need effective En- glish-as-a-second-lanuage programs. Communities need funding to provide business training for older immigrant workers. Undocumented people need to be able to get driver's licences. Social programs like MassHealth need to continue to be offered to non-citizens. Capital needs to be readily available for new Massachusetts residents to start businesses. Attracting a healthy immigrant population will go a long way to supporting our robust economy, which is threatened by a shortage of workers. The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Brad Kane, editor, at bkane@wbjournal.com. Ian MacNeil W A T H O U SA N D WO R D S B Y D O N L A N D G R E N W

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