Learning Leadership from Martin Luther King

One of the best ways to learn how to be a great leader is by emulating what other great leaders have done – leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year, on the third Monday of January in the United States, we celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and contributions to society. The theme for this year’s celebration is as appropriate now as it was in the 1960s: “It Starts with Me: Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems.”

Dr. King’s life was a heroic example of tireless leadership. He was dedicated to easing the burden of institutional racism and?uplifting his community. He worked to mitigate poverty in Chicago, to catalyze civic action with the 1963 March on Washington, DC, and to leave his community, country, and world better for us all. He was committed to giving visibility and voice to the unseen and unheard people in our society.

Dr. King’s words inspire us to serve our communities and to actively create the improvements we want to see in our world by being part of something bigger than ourselves individually:

“Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame but for greatness, because greatness is determined by service.”

Since our Company’s founding, we at Henry Schein have demonstrated our commitment to service to others through our actions. Team Schein Members (TSMs) lift up others in need through our flagship initiatives, such as the Back to School program, which annually provides children in need with school supplies, and the Holiday Cheer for Children program, which provides families in need with gifts and support during the holiday season. Additionally, we have supported Give Kids A Smile , a program of the American Dental Association that has provided free oral health care education and services to more than seven million underserved children in the U.S. These are just a few of our many initiatives that provide TSMs around the world an opportunity to engage in acts of service. And this year, we also will be working on campaigns to help close gaps in food security and housing and to create a sustainable, positive impact on our environment.

The best way to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy of leadership is to learn from it and be the change we want to see in the world. In business and all other segments of society, we can apply Dr. King’s lesson of combining passion, strategic planning, and resilience to serve and enhance our communities.

As we reflect on Dr. King’s example, we should think about how we, through our individual talents, can answer his famous appeal:

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?’”