The Power of Values and Leading with Love

It's been 10 days since my MBA commencement ceremony, and grateful doesn't begin to cover how I'm feeling. Being chosen as a student speaker by my incredible peers at Presidio Graduate School was truly an honor.

Values play a significant role in empowering individuals, communities, companies, and our global society to make ethical choices, overcome adversity, and ultimately find fulfillment and meaning in life's journey. Below is the speech I delivered that offers a glimpse into the values-driven journey we embarked on together.

#MBA #GraduationSpeech #ValuesDrivenLeadership

Good afternoon, guests, faculty, and fellow graduates. As Katie Boyce expressed, being on this stage today is truly an honor. Thank you for the opportunity.

Graduates, today marks a pivotal moment in our lives. Armed with knowledge and determination, we stand on the threshold of turning a new leaf. As we reflect on our journey through this graduate program, some may be meditating on key themes (…OR simply stressing as we search for our next employer).?

A core theme for me is values. Values empower individuals and communities to make ethical choices, overcome adversity, and ultimately find fulfillment and meaning in life's journey.

Over the last five-ish years, I’ve kept a note on my phone titled “Values.” Like most things, this note is very much a “work in progress,” if you will, but I’d like to share some of it with all of you here today—both online and in person (H/T to Presidio's remote capabilities, and today’s live YouTube broadcast).

Evolution | Proactivity | Courage | Honesty | Convergence

These words prompt me to seek common ground, clarify purpose, inspire action, and challenge the status quo.

At Presidio, we began a journey of growth, committing to pushing boundaries, making sacrifices, and embracing change through our advanced degree program. Presidio taught us to innovate, thrive, and evolve.

In a relentless pursuit of excellence and positive change, we’ve learned we must be proactive. As challengers of conventional business and policy methods, we dare to envision bold new possibilities. And with courage and conviction, we dream big and defy the odds.

Central to our journey has been a commitment to honesty—with ourselves and others. We confront our limitations and embrace vulnerability as a catalyst for growth. We navigate complex ethical dilemmas but strive to uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency.

But perhaps what sets us apart is what we’ve witnessed as a single thread throughout this pursuit—the convergence of diverse perspectives and experiences. Through spirited debates and collaborative endeavors, we’ve discovered how the sum of collective efforts far exceeds individual capabilities. Together, we've explored new horizons, unearthed insights, and forged lasting bonds.

Speaking of bonds... Reflecting on my decision to attend business school, I recall a recurring theme from every informational conversation. And if anything has held true through this journey, it’s the resulting connections. From countless hours on Zoom calls, a record of resolved Google comments longer than a CVS receipt, and our intense yet immersive residencies, we've stood together in purpose and camaraderie.

Amidst the rigor of academia and whatever may lie ahead, we must not forget the values that define us as unique individuals and members of this collective. But…

…I’ve withheld one value that I believe to be above all—a shared sense of love—love for our craft, our communities, and for the world we aspire to change. Love fuels our passions, inspires our actions, and imbues meaning into every endeavor. Let’s continue to lead with love—a singular value transcending time, culture, and circumstance.

As we strut across this stage, clutching a very expensive piece of paper (I mean, our diplomas), the world looks to us—the next generation of innovators, change-makers, and leaders—to bridge divides and create a brighter horizon.?

As we bid farewell to our time at Presidio as students, let’s carry forward the lessons learned, the memories made, and the values instilled.?

We are believers.

We are doers.?

We are Presidians.

Congratulations, Class of Twenty Twenty-Four!

Thank you.