Unlocking Leadership and Global Insights with Lew Cramer

Lew Cramer, CEO of Colliers International, former White House Fellow and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, discusses unlocking leadership and global insights on Alan Olsen‘s American Dreams Show.

Leadership and Global Insights

In today’s fast-paced world, where global connections and leadership are more critical than ever, learning from seasoned professionals like Lew Cramer can offer invaluable insights. Lew’s journey from the halls of Stanford to the international stage as a leader in both public service and commercial real estate provides readers with practical lessons on leadership, adaptability, and the importance of fostering global relationships.

Whether you’re a business leader, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone interested in international trade, Lew’s story offers actionable takeaways that can be applied to your own career and personal growth.

The Power of Mentorship and Legacy Building

Throughout his career, Lew has been a strong advocate for mentorship, drawing from the guidance he received from his own mentors. He shares his approach to mentoring the next generation of leaders, emphasizing the importance of service, collaboration, and the golden rule. This section offers valuable advice for anyone looking to build a lasting legacy in their personal and professional life.

Why Lew Cramer’s Story Matters to You

Lew Cramer’s life is a testament to the power of leadership, global awareness, and service. His story offers practical lessons that readers can apply to their own careers, whether in business, public service, or community leadership. By reading this interview, you’ll gain insights into how to navigate complex challenges, build strong relationships, and leave a lasting impact on the world around you.

Transcript:

Alan Olsen

Welcome to American Dreams. I’m here today with Lew Cramer. Lew, welcome to today’s show.

Lew Cramer

Thank you so much. What a pleasure.

Alan Olsen

Lew, I’m really excited for this interview. You have a very unique background and path in life, doing a lot of different things. Maybe for the listeners, you can give some history, starting from your college years, and explain how you got to where you are today.

Lew Cramer

Thank you, Alan. It’s a delight to be here. Lew Cramer:

I had an interesting beginning. I grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and went to Stanford in the 1960s, which was a pretty wild time to be at any university, especially Stanford. I served an LDS mission in Berlin during the depths of the Cold War. My draft number was two, and after Stanford burned the ROTC building, I had to transfer to BYU in the middle of the semester to enroll in ROTC.

It was there that I met a beautiful blonde woman named Barbara Welch. We just celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary, and I’m eagerly signed up for another 51. I’m the luckiest man on earth.

After that, I had the opportunity to practice law in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles, and then moved to Washington, DC as a White House Fellow in the Reagan administration, where I served as one of his international trade negotiators. I became a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and later, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.

During the Bush administration, I also served as the Director General of the U.S. Commercial Service, overseeing 1,400 commercial attachés around the world.

At that point, my father-in-law, who was one of the founding partners of Latham & Watkins, joked that his son-in-law couldn’t keep a job—and I proved him right! I spent the next decade working for US West International, putting the first cell phone systems in about 20 countries, particularly as the Berlin Wall fell.

From there, I founded the World Trade Center in Utah with my dear friend, Governor Jon Huntsman.

For the last decade, I’ve had the pleasure of being the CEO of Colliers Utah, the largest commercial real estate company in the Mountain West and part of the third-largest commercial real estate firm on the planet. It’s been a delightful life, and meeting people like Alan Olsen makes it all worth it.

Along the way, my wife and I have raised six children and now have 22 grandchildren, with many adventures in between.

Alan Olsen:

What a legacy, Lew! For the listeners who are seeing our beautiful surroundings, we’re in your office in downtown Salt Lake City. I love the background, and I don’t know how you can come to work every day with such a beautiful view.

Lew Cramer:

I work with incredible men and women, and Salt Lake is booming. As you know, Utah is one of the fastest-growing economies in the country, and there’s a reason for that. That’s probably why you came to visit, so thank you again for coming all the way from Kansas City this morning.

Alan Olsen:

Lew, you were president and CEO of the World Trade Center Utah, which you took on after serving in the Reagan administration. Can you tell us how this came to be, and what the role and mission of the World Trade Center in Salt Lake City were?

Lew Cramer:

I appreciate that question. There are about 300 World Trade Centers in 100 countries around the world, all with the mission to build relationships, increase trade, and promote peace. Jon Huntsman and I had worked together in the Reagan administration. Jon was just 29 years old when I first met him, and I quickly realized he was very, very smart.

We worked together on international trade, export promotion, and other exciting initiatives. Jon went on to have a brilliant career, serving in multiple ambassadorships. As Governor of Utah, he wanted to foster a more internationally-minded population. So, while I was in Washington, DC, he called me and asked me to come out and run the World Trade Center in Utah. We started it with the goal of increasing the global expectations of Utah’s people.

In the seven years we were involved, Utah tripled its international exports, thanks to the efforts of its people. Jon Huntsman was incredibly supportive, though he left halfway through to become the Ambassador to China. Governor Herbert took his place and continued to build on that momentum, fostering relationships, answering questions, and increasing international trade.

Alan Olsen:

Is it true that Utah became the only state with consistent positive export growth during the decade or so when you were overseeing things?

Lew Cramer:

Yes, that’s absolutely true. I take very little credit for it, but the people of Utah recognized that we speak 140 languages here, know how to do international trade, and have a Delta hub that connects us to the world. Even through the worst times of the recent downturn, Utah maintained a positive trade balance, and we still do. We will always have that.

Alan Olsen:

Let’s talk about your transition to Colliers. You played a dual role as CEO while staying involved with the World Trade Center, right?

Lew Cramer:

I sure did. Once you’re an international trade guy, you can never leave it behind. I’ve had the privilege of serving as vice chairman for several years alongside Scott Anderson, the former CEO of Zions Bank, and Jon Huntsman as chairman. Our newest addition is Ambassador Jeff Flake, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, who will take on that role.

Colliers was a great fit for me, with over 500 offices in 65 countries and 17,000 professionals in real estate. It’s international, just like my previous work, and it’s been a blessing to do both roles simultaneously in the same city and state.

Alan Olsen:

As you look back on your life and experiences, how have they shaped your approach to leading an organization?

Lew Cramer:

Alan, you’re the one I should be asking that question to! But thank you for your example. One of the things President Reagan used to say is that all of us together are smarter than any one of us alone. I’ve always sought to work with consensus, following what we call the three C’s of Governor Herbert: collaboration, cooperation, and communication.

I believe in the golden rule—I want to treat my colleagues as I would like to be treated. I’ve been blessed every step of the way with fantastic mentors, colleagues, and friends.

Alan Olsen:

In your career, you’ve also been involved in education and mentorship. How do you approach mentoring individuals, and what qualities do you think are essential for future leaders to develop?

Lew Cramer:

The joke is that we want the young people we work with to succeed because they’re going to be paying our Social Security someday! But seriously, I’ve been so blessed by the mentors in my life. I regularly write down a list of 20 men and women who have been exemplars to me, and I strive to be that kind of person to those I have the blessing to help.

When someone asks how they can ever repay me, I tell them to do the same for the next generation. I have six children, and they’ve all inherited that spirit of giving back, just as your seven have. It’s a blessing to be an American. People often ask me what I’d do if I won the lottery, and I tell them, “Wait a minute, I’ve won the lottery. You’ve won the lottery.”

We’re American citizens, and we have the freedom, liberty, and opportunities to make a difference. I hope that mindset resonates with others.

Alan Olsen

Now, you’re getting ready for a big transition. Should we let the cat out of the bag?

Lew Cramer

Yes, it’s a significant transition. My wife and I have received a call from our LDS faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to serve as senior missionaries. We’re moving to London, England, where we’ll serve as diplomatic collaborators, focusing on Public Affairs outreach and interfaith bridge-building within the community.

There are over 100 ambassadors and consuls general in England, and our role will be to build relationships with them and show how the principles of love, humanity, and peace-building can help. The Church has provided significant humanitarian assistance around the world, and we’ll remind the ambassadors of the impact this can have.

We’ll be gone for two years and will certainly miss our life here. My Colliers partners have been gracious enough to say they’ll miss me. Interestingly, when I mentioned I was going to London, some thought I meant Linden, Utah—not London, England. But we’ll be back, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead.

Alan Olsen

Lew, you’ve had a remarkable life, filled with new opportunities and experiences. As you move into this next chapter in London, how do you want to be remembered in life?

Lew Cramer

I think about that a lot at my age. I hope my legacy to my family will be that they had a father who always loved them and who loved their mother. I want them to be committed to service, patriotism, faith, and family.

I’ve tried to document some of the amazing experiences I’ve had with people like President Reagan and other heads of state, but at the end of the day, what matters most is that when I go home, my family is happy to see Dad.

Alan Olsen

Thank you, Lew. Your perspective reminds me of another interview I did with someone who built an ice cream empire, traveled to both the North and South Poles, and held prominent positions. But, like you, he emphasized that no success in life can compensate for failure in the home. Well said.

And that sentiment echoes the wisdom of David O. McKay, a former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lou, I really appreciate you being with us here today.

Lew Cramer:

I can’t tell you what a pleasure it’s been having you and your sons in our offices. You’ve really lit the place up. I joked that the energy level in the state of Utah was enhanced dramatically when you three arrived. I know you have seven sons, but I’ve only met two so far—I’m looking forward to meeting the rest.

You’re always welcome here, and you certainly make Kansas City an attractive destination in my future plans. It’s truly an honor to be here, and I want to thank you for all you’ve done and will continue to do. Your influence extends far and wide, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to visit with you this morning.

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Lew Cramer’s Early Life and Education

Lew Cramer’s leadership journey began in Mesa, Arizona, and took him to Stanford University during the turbulent 1960s. His experiences, including serving an LDS mission in Berlin during the Cold War, shaped his worldview and prepared him for the complex roles he would later assume. These early experiences laid the foundation for his adaptability and resilience, traits that are essential for any leader navigating today’s global challenges.

Public Service and International Trade

Lew’s career in public service is nothing short of remarkable. As a White House Fellow in the Reagan administration, he was deeply involved in international trade negotiations, eventually rising to the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. His leadership during this time not only impacted U.S. trade policies but also positioned him as a key figure in promoting global economic growth. For readers interested in how government and business intersect on the world stage, Lew’s experiences offer a masterclass in diplomacy and international relations.

Leading Utah’s Global Expansion

After his time in Washington, D.C., Lew returned to Utah to co-found the World Trade Center Utah with Governor Jon Huntsman. Under his leadership, Utah saw a significant increase in international exports, making it the only state with consistent positive export growth during that decade. This section highlights the strategies Lew implemented to connect Utah with global markets and the importance of building strong international relationships—lessons that are crucial for anyone looking to expand their business globally.

Transition to Commercial Real Estate with Colliers Utah

Lew’s transition to Colliers Utah as CEO showcases his ability to lead across diverse industries. At Colliers, he continued to leverage his international experience, overseeing one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the Mountain West. This section delves into how Lew applied his leadership skills in a new industry, providing readers with insights into how to successfully pivot and thrive in different professional environments.

A New Chapter: Serving as Senior Missionaries in London

Lew and his wife are about to embark on a new chapter, serving as senior missionaries in London for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this role, they will focus on diplomatic collaboration and interfaith outreach, continuing their lifelong commitment to service. This section highlights the importance of lifelong learning and giving back, encouraging readers to think about how they can contribute to their communities, no matter where they are in their career.