The new academic year is a reminder of our duty as leaders
John A. Quelch
Executive Vice Chancellor at Duke Kunshan University | Harvard | CEIBS | London | Wharton | Oxford | Miami |
The beginning of a new academic year is always an exciting time, with our campus filled with new and familiar faces eager to learn and continue growing. I am truly inspired by the students, staff and faculty whom I have met in recent days.
At the University of Miami, our mission is to transform lives through teaching, research and service. But even outside the classroom, all of us have the ability to contribute to this mission each and every day, to help transform our future.
As educators, we have the responsibility not only to impart knowledge, but also to develop critical thinking skills and encourage meaningful discussions. The important issues of our time are increasingly interdisciplinary in nature and require collaboration. We need to make a more proactive effort of engaging in conversations and inviting those collaborations that can lead to transformative action.
However, this is a responsibility not only of educators, but of leaders across the board, in both the public and private sectors. To be drivers of improvement for students, employees, colleagues – society as a whole, we must set the example in our daily decisions and in our activities, acting with purpose and passion.
As we kick off the new academic year, I am reaffirming my commitment to our students, and to our society, by actively sharing knowledge and interesting ideas as well as encouraging vibrant discussions that contribute to the development of engaged and confident critical thinkers. I believe LinkedIn will be an excellent platform to continue fulfilling this purpose. I plan to take this opportunity to share my perspectives and insights on important issues and topics relevant to the challenges our society faces today.
I invite you to join me on this journey and encourage you to share your thoughts and perspectives with me as well.