Harold Tan is a member of the Board of Judges for The 2009 International Business Awards.

What book are you currently reading?
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin.  Learn how to lead a movement!

What was the last movie you saw, and would you recommend it?
The last movie I saw was Terminator Salvation. Unfortunately, despite being a die-hard Terminator fan, I would not recommend it.  Poor character development, clichéd action scenes, and lack of storyline progression.

What is your favorite sport or hobby?
Martial arts—which help develop mind, body, and soul.

Who is your favorite historical figure?
Hm, I would have to say Jesus because of the impact he has had on our culture.

Who is your favorite living person?
My mother.

If you could choose another profession, what would it be?
Personal development coach.  It’s great to help other people transcend their limitations.

What do you think is the worst bad habit to have at work?
Surfing YouTube: that thing is a time sink.

What quality or qualities do you most value in your business associates?
Execution.  It is important to me that when somebody says they’ll do something, they do it.

Is there anything you'd like to improve about your own work practices?
I always strive to be more efficient.

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Western Union of Englewood, Colorado, received a Stevie Award for Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program in South America in The 2008 International Business Awards. Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Western Union, Anne McCarthy is a member of the Board of Judges for the 2009 IBAs.

A leader in global money transfer services, Western Union connects communities around the world through its network of more than 379,000 Agent locations in 200 countries. In 2006, when Western Union prepared to spin-off from its parent company to once again become independent and publicly traded, it undertook an in-depth examination of its community commitment. The company aimed to focus its giving for greater social impact around one social issue that more effectively addressed the needs of its consumer base. In 2007, Western Union introduced its Our World, Our Family® program as an expression of this commitment to both corporate citizenship and its core consumers.

The Goal: To Make Poverty History
In 2007 alone, 200 million migrants worldwide sent home an estimated $369 billion in remittances, which is more than double the official aid received by developing countries. Western Union is harnessing the power of remittances to support the communities it serves and to alleviate the cycle of poverty.

Western Union’s Our World, Our Family program is facilitating economic opportunity worldwide for migrants and their families, addressing the root causes of poverty, which too often make migration a necessity rather than a choice. In total, the Western Union Foundation has granted $53 million to more than 1,800 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in 100 countries.

To develop the program, Western Union engaged dozens of issue experts, researched potential NGO partners, and forged an in-depth partnership with Mercy Corps, an NGO that since 1979 has provided more than $1 billion in assistance to developing countries. With its partners, Western Union is working to empower families around the world, providing them with needed tools and resources to comprehensively address their specific economic needs.

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Blogs, or web logs, are all the rage these days. Each month in this space we'll point you to several blogs and web sites that we think might be of interest to you.

Geoteaming - Geocaching with corporate events: Bring the excitement of Geocaching to your next corporate event, and create an unforgettable experience for your team. Geoteaming is the industry leader in creating Geocaching based group events.
Richard Branson's Business Stripped Bare: The always-entertaining Richard Branson's blog.
Indexed: A blog that reveals in a simple and intuitive way the large and small truths of modern life.
Innovate on Purpose: A blog dedicated to ideas, conversations, and approaches for sustainable, repeatable innovation.