Modern Times
Modern Times analyzes novel ideas, emerging technologies, and pragmatic policy bargains. It covers practical, center-left labor politics and my occasional thoughts on bikes, books, wristwatches, 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 failed, although its core insights are 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 research, identify, and promote effective practices in American workplaces, similar to what the Agricultural Extension Service did for farms.
I hold honors degrees from UC Santa Cruz and Harvard Business School. I wrote A Better Bargain to outline my thoughts about revitalizing labor unions. I am married to Silicon Valley scholar AnnaLee Saxenian. We live in California’s East Bay, as do our two grown sons. Gmail me at martymanley or follow me on BlueSky, Xitter, or LinkedIn @martymanley.
