Rio 2016: purpose-driven performance builds legacies

The Olympics were absolutely brilliant! I had the opportunity to be in Rio to experience the Olympic Games, and as I reflect on this incredible experience, two things come to mind: the value of being purpose-driven, and the importance of creating a lasting legacy. I have seen this up-close for the last six years as EY in Brazil has been the exclusive professional services provider for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Let me share some observations.

• The People of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil gave the world a gift of hope at the perfect time. Despite many economic and political challenges leading up to the Olympics, Rio shined! Through their generous spirit, the people of Brazil welcomed athletes and guests from every nation. Their smiles, warmth and hospitality created a timeless impression. And that vibrancy captured the imagination of billions more. Virtually all of humankind marveled at the beauty of Rio and the kindness of the people of Brazil. They gave the world a beautiful gift of hope by refocusing humanity on what is right with our world.
• The athletes inspired the next generation to achieve bold dreams. Their example of personal dedication, values, sportsmanship, teamwork and poise inspired countless numbers of the next generation to work hard to achieve their goals. I had the rare privilege to meet champions of prior Olympics at the EY-sponsored Olympians Reunion Centre, the one place in Rio for Olympians of all ages, sports and countries to reunite.

I talked with athletes who had broken existing societal norms to prove that a young woman or man with bold dreams could represent their county, compete at a world-class level and be a change agent for society at large. I met many Olympic alumni and heard countless stories of how they progressed from world-class competitors to educators, medical professionals, humanitarians, business leaders – elevating society with the same vigor with which they competed. Because of their legacy, we launched our own EY Women Athletes Business Network intern program, offering new careers to a dynamic group of eight female Olympic Athletes from six countries who we know will be game-changers over the span of their careers.

• EY’s own alumna, Gwen Jorgensen, won with the heart and grace of a champion. On the final Saturday of the Rio 2016 Olympics, Gwen Jorgensen won the Women's Triathlon Gold Medal. Gwen was a tax accountant at EY before becoming a professional triathlete six years ago. She has been an inspiration to me and tens of thousands of EY people – we were especially proud when NBC told the story of how she progressed from her EY days to today’s Olympic gold medalist.

Being part of “Team Gwen” with her family, friends and EY colleagues cheering her through the 1:56:16 of her triathlon gave me goosebumps. Finishing first was a familiar feeling for Gwen as she had won 14 of her last 16 events going into the Games. But the magic in Gwen’s story is how she took her natural gifts, refined the areas she needed to work on and dedicated herself to achieving her goal. Gwen’s sense of humility, balance and sportsmanship have forged a real connection with her fans and represent the character of this World Champion.

• The Rio 2016 Organizing Committee saw the potential of the next 50 years. In Rio, the aspirations, passion and competitive spirit of the world’s best athletes enthralled and lifted the human spirit for the entire global community for 17 days. The Rio 2016 Organizing Committee saw something even bigger – they saw an opportunity to change Rio for generations to come.

Their dreams galvanized thousands of employees, volunteers and sponsors. Thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses were able to grow – including stories like Fabiola Molina, a Brazilian Olympic swimmer and EY Entrepreneurial Winning Woman, whose swimwear became official merchandise of the Rio 2016 Games. Or the group of women from favelas in Rio – organized by the CEO of RedeAsta, another EY Entrepreneurial Winning Woman – who hand-sewed thousands of seat cushions for the Athletes’ Village. The impact of Rio 2016 to unlock those dreams will be realized for generations to come and will make Rio de Janeiro a more vibrant community with a global legacy.

• And finally, EY’s team supporting Rio 2016 showed us what purpose and high-performance teaming is all about. I was so proud that EY, as the exclusive professional services provider for the Rio 2016 Games, helped shine the global spotlight on this dynamic city and country. Rio built and strengthened critical infrastructure, modernized ports and transportation and put into place world-class facilities that can be used for decades to come as housing, schools and medical facilities.

I am thrilled that EY’s Advisory practice was right in the middle of all of this, using our supply chain, logistics and project management experience to help deliver a successful games and deepen Brazil’s legacy to the world. More than 400 EY professionals collaborated with the Rio 2016 Olympic Organizing Committee, local officials and many other stakeholders to pull off this massively complex and historic event. Thousands more volunteered and served as hosts. To me, this is the total embodiment of our purpose – building a better working world.

I am so proud of EY’s impact.

I would love to know what inspired you during the Olympics and the longer-term legacy that you believe will be effected.

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Here are some photos from my Rio trip:

EY colleagues congratulate Gwen Jorgensen (third from right) on winning gold while at USA House in Rio.

EY Brazil CEO, Luiz Sergio Vieira (third from right), joined by some of the eight female Olympic Athletes EY will hire as interns through the EY Women Athletes Business Network.

With my great EY colleagues in Rio - from left: Herb Engert, Holly Humphrey, Nancy Altobello and Kristy Ingram.

About the author:

Steve Howe is EY Americas Managing Partner and Chairman and Managing Partner of Ernst & Young LLP, the EY firm in the US. He has been honored by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) as a Directorship 100 honoree, recognizing him as one of the most influential leaders in the boardroom and corporate governance community.  Accounting Today named Steve to their “Top 100 Most Influential People”  list of the thought leaders and visionaries shaping the accounting profession. He has been recognized as one of the top “100 CEO Leaders in STEM” by STEMconnector. Steve has also been honored as a “diversity leader” by DiversityInc and is the 2016 recipient of the A. Leon Higginbotham Corporate Leadership Award, recognizing exemplary leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. You can follow him on Twitter: @SteveHoweEY