Modern Times
Modern Times is where I write about novel ideas, emerging technologies, and pragmatic policy bargains. Practical, center-left labor stuff, but also bikes, books, travel, and life in Oakland, California.
About me.
I spent a decade organizing labor unions in several industries and worked as a journeyman machinist in a Silicon Valley defense plant. As a leader of the International Association of Machinists, I was asked to help solve business problems when large manufacturing and aerospace companies were laid low by the recession in the early 1980s. When I discovered that I knew very little about business strategy, finance, or operations, I got an MBA and worked at McKinsey until I could help unions in troubled steel, auto, airline, media, and telecom industries to restructure their ownership and operations. This often meant unionized workers became partial, reluctant owners of troubled enterprises. A few did well. Most did not.
I am the co-founder of three technology companies and a federal agency. Reputation Networks created IP still used by LinkedIn. Online commerce pioneer Alibris and academic journal sales platform RedLink worked and are still around. The agency was the US Department of Labor's Office of the American Workplace. Bill Clinton and Labor Secretary Robert Reich backed my plan to do for American workplaces what the Agricultural Extension Service did for farms: research, identify, and promote effective practices.
I hold honors degrees from UC Santa Cruz and Harvard Business School. I wrote A Better Bargain to outline some thoughts about revitalizing labor unions. I am married to Silicon Valley scholar AnnaLee Saxenian. We live in Oakland, California, as do our two grown sons. Gmail me at martymanley or follow me on BlueSky, Xitter, or LinkedIn @martymanley.
