This week, I had the honor of being a keynote speaker at my alma mater Saint Peter's University for the annual Michaelmas Convocation.
What is Michaelmas? It's a ceremony following the medieval tradition of convening the faculty and students to start the term and it is celebrated in honor of the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. For Saint Peter's, they recognize students' academic achievements, including the top ten seniors who are inducted into the Most Noble Order of the Peacock (yes, it's a thing!!).
I was truly honored by the invitation to share some thoughts with faculty and students who are some of Saint Peter's best and brightest, and I thought I would post my speech here for those who may wonder what wisdom I would bestow on such scholars. Enjoy!
Saint Peter’s University
Michaelmas Convocation
Sept. 25, 2019
Thank
you, Provost Bonato and President Cornacchia.
It’s
truly an honor to be here today and to speak with you.
When
I got the note from Saint Peter’s asking me to join you today for the keynote, I was actually quite surprised. You
see, as the chief communications officer of Zoetis … and over my more than
25-year career in public relations,… I am normally the speech writer,
not the speech giver. I usually get to be the coach and critic, not the subject or speaker. So, hopefully, I have
learned a few things over my years of speechwriting, and I can put it into
good practice today.
Let
me begin with Congratulations to all of you for the awards you are
about to receive.
Reading, writing, research, and analysis have all developed your minds and
talents in ways that merit the admiration of your professors, your parents, and your peers – and for the lucky ones maybe your siblings, too. Although that
may be a stretch on some days.
You
have put in the time and hard work that doesn’t show up on scoreboards or
SportsCenter. It happens in classrooms, in science labs, and in libraries. You
have dedicated yourself to the personal rewards that come from curiosity, classwork, and academic excellence. And,
today is your day. Congratulations again.
And,
while we are in the spirit of congratulations, I would also like to recognize
the professors, administrators, and staff who have helped you reach your potential, stretch beyond your limits, and
achieve goals that even you may not have thought were possible.
So
as we join together at this celebration of academic excellence, I am left to
wonder what meaningful message can I share with you?
- n You already
appreciate the importance and value of a classroom education. That’s evident.
- n Most
of you are probably smarter and more well-read than this “old English major”
standing before you.
- n And, if
you are anything like my Gen Z daughters, you are all anxious to get out of your
fancy clothes … get back on your smartphones,… and head off to the nearest
Starbucks for coffee.
But,
I ask you to indulge me for me for a few more minutes as I share three
lessons from my experience at Saint Peter’s…. lessons that I think will complement your
academic learning and hopefully strike a chord with your experiences here.
Be Confident
The
first lesson is be confident.
Saint
Peter’s has certainly grown in prominence and recognition under Dr. Cornacchia’s
leadership, making many prestigious “best college” rankings and lists. But, it
is still easy to feel like an underdog at Saint Peter’s in Jersey City. It is part of our DNA.
There
are bigger “name” schools that laud their academic achievements, and there are
certainly “larger” stages for receiving awards. But, trust me when I say Saint
Peter’s has offered you everything you need for a successful life and
career.
At
Saint Peter’s you have … An incredible and dedicated faculty… Personal
attention for every student… A liberal arts foundation, with creative and
demanding opportunities for learning… Rich, real-life experiences through internships
and cooperative education… A diverse community in which to grow and challenge
one another… And a set of values based on caring for others and contributing to
society that will enrich your life for years to come.
Another
reason to be confident is that you are becoming part of a proud legacy
at Saint Peter’s. Your achievements over four years are amazing and commendable, but where you can go next is limitless.
Look
at our alumni. I think of two of my Saint Peter’s classmates. One who is
a world-renowned heart surgeon, Dr. Allan Stewart. He is an expert on cardiothoracic
surgery,... has been trusted to operate on world leaders like Bill Clinton,… and generously
teaches others around the world his life-saving techniques. He’s actually off
to Nigeria this week for surgery and teaching.
Another
classmate and good friend of mine is Tom Weatherall, the CEO of the Make-A-Wish
Foundation in New Jersey. Tom’s daily mission is bringing joy, smiles and
relief to children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses by
granting their wishes. Tom is a true expert in fundraising, philanthropy and a
fulfilling dreams.
What
fulfilling and special careers these classmates have chosen.
I
think of my mentors from Saint Peter’s. Frank D’Amelio, who is the CFO
and Executive Vice President of Pfizer, one of the world’s largest healthcare
product companies. Frank grew up in
Hoboken where his family ran a local plumbing supply business and where he
learned all about hard work and finances. Today, he is one of the most
respected CFOs on Wall Street and responsible for investing billions of dollars
in the development of Pfizer’s breakthrough biopharmaceutical products and
pipeline.
Another very special mentor of mine is Kathy Fitzgerald. Kathy was a student in one of the early graduating classes of women at Saint Peter’s,… and my first boss. Our Saint Peter’s roots bonded us immediately, and she has been a teacher, counselor and friend ever since. Kathy had a storied career, building world-class PR organizations across four companies and three industries. She became a legend in corporate communications for building reputations, managing crises and counseling the boards of AT&T, Lucent Technologies, KPMG and PSE&G. And now, retired from the corporate world, she is back at Saint Peter’s sharing her experience as a teacher.
And
lastly, I think of a Saint Peter’s student whom I mentored, Mesfin
Fekadu. We shared dinners and discussions at Jersey City restaurants when he
was an ambitious student looking to work in media. Since then, he has become
the lead music editor for the Associated Press. You can read his articles and
interviews with everyone from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to Rihanna and the
Rolling Stones. This young man has built an amazing career from humble
beginnings in Philadelphia.
Diverse
and exceptional legacies in each one. And yours is still to be written. So,
again, I say be Confident. You are part of an amazing and talented
family at Saint Peter’s,… and you are earning your place every day.
Be Communicators
My
second piece of advice is be Communicators.
You
are already gaining the subject matter knowledge and skills you need for your
major and the future career you want to pursue. Whether it’s biology,
accounting, cyber security or political science, you’ve proven that you can do
it.
I
would tell you, however, that wherever you go and whatever you do in your
careers, your ability to communicate will make a huge difference in your
success. It’s a skill that every
recruiter and every employer expects.
The
CEOs and executives I have worked with over my career have had a range of
credentials – scientists, engineers, marketing gurus, financial wizards. But, they were also all good communicators
and saw it as an irreplaceable skill as they rose through the ranks.
Communications
was not someone else’s job. It was how they influenced customers, colleagues,
investors and all sorts of people. Like many of the skills you are learning at
Saint Peter’s, it will take effort to be a good communicator.
I
can remember sitting in Pope Lecture Hall with other students. We were taking
Classical Rhetoric and Public Speaking with Professor James C.G. Conniff.
We
came from all sorts of majors – English, Computer Science, Business, Urban
Studies, etc. This was before Saint
Peter’s had a formal Communications program. We were all there because we knew
Conniff would make us better. He could be a gruff and cranky old man,… but he
was also a gifted and brilliant teacher. If
you can, picture this,… Professor Conniff was a cross between Yoda from Star
Wars … and Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street. And I say that with love and
admiration. 😊
We
would all give brief speeches or read monologues,… often on any topic of our
choosing. Conniff would interrupt us,… bark at us,… correct us,… and pass us
hand-written notes in his cryptic scrawl. These were concise and pointed
critiques of your thoughts and delivery.
Illegible pearls of wisdom. His focus was on the spoken word and
thoughts, not penmanship. But I am sure he is up there now jotting down notes on
my elocution, my pace and my Hudson County accent.
He
was one of many teachers at Saint Peter’s who taught me that the best ideas
and greatest talents can be easily ignored without the skill to share them
with others. So I say to you all… Be Communicators.
Be Kind
And
finally … and most importantly. Be
kind.
You
are fortunate to be at a Jesuit school such as Saint Peter’s, where the idea of
being a Man or Woman for Others is core to its mission and culture.
Kindness
can come in grand works and small gestures. At Saint Peter’s, it
can be seen in the school’s commitment to serving others through its Campus Ministry
or Peer Educator programs … or it can be seen in simpler ways -- welcoming a
new student to campus,… checking on a friend who is struggling … or simply by not
having an episode of road rage when you lose the last parking spot in the
Armory lot or Yanitelli Center.
Last
year, when I had to help my parents sell their home and move out of Jersey City
after 45 years on McAdoo Avenue, I reached out to Saint Peter’s for help. I
asked if they had any ideas on how to get rid of all the stuff that my parents
couldn’t take with them to their new home. It was a daunting task for me
and my sister.
It
would have been easy to pass me off to the Salvation Army or ask me to drop
things off in one place or another, but Saint Peter’s and Erich Sekel from
Campus Ministry went well beyond that. Erich made himself available to me. He
visited my parents’ house and offered to help on his own time. He came to their
home with other volunteers and packed up donations of clothes and kitchen
supplies on a weekend. He went the extra mile for me and my parents, and he showed
kindness when none was expected … or required.
I
say this to you because kindness is not always easy … and it can’t
always compete with our desire for academic awards or the thrill of exciting
careers. … But, it is sooooo, soooo necessary,… so valuable,… and so fundamental
to what Saint Peter’s wants to instill in your education outside of the
classroom. And it is through your kindness that you’ll have your
greatest impact and build your most meaningful legacy.
The
academic awards you all receive today are incredibly well-deserved. I
appreciate how hard-earned they are and I congratulate you all again,… but I also
challenge you all to remember the other lessons that you can take from
Saint Peter’s. Those lessons that are found outside your classrooms, books and
tablets.
Remember
… to always … Be Confident…. Be
Communicators… And most importantly … Be
Kind.
Thank
you….
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