Not any longer. Within the past five years Du Pont has embarked upon new ventures in electronics, imaging, and even life sciences—for example, protein structures and agricultural science have been added to the company's portfolio alongside the more traditional businesses of polymers, chemical structures, and petroleum. That's why, six years ago, corporate management set out after molecular biologist Pearson. And that's why Du Pont called his bluff.
It seems that even though Pearson didn't take his recruiters seriously, he managed to tell them what he thought a molecular biology outfit ought to look like. "Of course I had my ready-made wish list glued on the inside of my head," he admits. So he "gave them a plan that was interesting and that I thought they wouldn't be interested in pursuing in a million years." Du Pont not only hired him, it granted his entire wish list. Today, as director of ...
