My public television: How companies solve social problems

About five years ago, Loyola's Selling School of Business participated in a weekly business program on a local Baltimore public television station, with interviews of Sellinger faculty by the host of the series. Guess who was called to speak first?

It was a modest endeavor. First, the school asked me to lead off the program with my topic, social entrepreneurship, that had produced one of the most subscribed electives at Loyola. Second, the program producers asked to top provide potential questions or topics for the host. Little did I know that my words became the basis of perhaps all of the host's preparation for the interview. Third, they told me when to arrive at the studio in Owings Mills. Fourth, as I sat there alone in the library, I pondered how long the interview would take and how much make up and rehearsal I'd need. Fifth, a production assistant took me through a warren of studios to the set for the show where the host was sitting in the seat he'd occupy for the interview. I was shown to my seat and than the floor producer announced we had about two minutes -- maybe it was thirty seconds -- before going to the interview. That caught me a bit off guard. Finally, the host turned to the camera, introduced me, and we were off and running, with the host asking questions that closely approximated the questions I had e-mailed to the studio in advance. And all this time I am saying to myself: "What, no make up? When is the rehearsal?"

Watch the broadcast of the interview and judge for yourself. How did I do? How did he do? Did you learn anything?

To be candid, I can't watch myself on television, or video recorded.