Category: Family

My entire focus as a Kellogg Clinical Professor is to teach current and future business leaders the importance of values-based leader. Why? because I strongly believe the world desperately needs more VALUES-BASED LEADERS!

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Richard Taylor from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to discuss my leadership journey; how I used my personal values to guide business decisions, overcome challenges and find success in different roles.

I am very pleased to share this episode of the podcast, Executive Insights – A Leader’s Edge, with you. I hope you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed my 20 minute discussion with Richard.

From the students in my MBA classes at Kellogg to the professionals I meet when giving talks to organizations around the globe, people are just as ambitious as they’ve ever been. As satisfying as their career paths may be, however, many of them are looking for something more–a deeper sense of purpose or more opportunities to pursue their passions. For many of these people, that “something more” comes from volunteering, giving of themselves in support of organizations and causes that align with their values.

I recently wrote about the power of volunteering in Harvard Business Review. Special thanks to my former student, Nick LoManto, who in addition to having a wonderful career at Vanguard, is a volunteer firefighter. The photo he shared is of his two young sons who were able to see their dad in action at a vehicle rescue training. As Nick told me, “They might actually think Dad is cool for once!”

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

Looking for a Sense of Purpose? Volunteer.

At age 29, Nick LoManto led a busy life. He was moving up in his job as a manager of investment analysts at the financial services firm, Vanguard. At home, he and his wife were settling into their marriage and starting to think about growing their family. “There I was, a finance professional with every gift a person could wish for,” he told me. But despite all he was building, LoManto couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

I am currently in Bangkok, Thailand to give several leadership presentations. I will summarize the trip next week, but I thought today I would see if you could guess what I am thinking when I ask, “What is one of the greatest things in life?”

You probably have a few good guesses such as: Being blessed with great parents, finding your life partner, or becoming a parent. Alternatively, maybe it’s realizing the importance of your religious beliefs, being a member of the winning sports team, or contributing your time, talent and treasure to an important charity or nonprofit.

These are all wonderful guesses, and are all very important. However, as I sat on the 16-hour flight to Bangkok this weekend, I found myself reflecting on one particular blessing above all.

Give up?!?!