Laidlaw Scholars Network

Quote: It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life.

Leader: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (portrayed by sir Patrick Stewart).

I admire this leader because: I grew up watching Star Trek and other similar sci-fi programmes. Capt. Picard always stands out to me because he was able to approach the Universe and its many dangers with a combination of scientific, analytical intelligence and genuine compassion.

I like this quote because: I believe the fear of failing is one of the most fundamental. No one wants to expend time and energy on a futile attempt that will just them feeling like they have wasted both. This fear often holds us all back from trying to attain goals because we don't want to seem unworthy or unable. It's important to remember, that although failure remains a possibility with all things in life and in spite of that fear, that chasing success and actualising goals should not be foregone.

Quote: "Before You Are a Leader, Success is All About Growing Yourself.  When you Become a Leader, Success is all about Growing Others." 

Leader: Jack Welch

I admire this leader because: He is humbled by his leadership experiences, and his message resonates with my own beliefs. 

I like this quote because:  The quote is a verbal networking recipe for growing leaders.

Quote: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."

Leader: Marie Curie

I admire this leader because: she was an unbelievably dedicated and brilliant person who, despite the crushing social pressures of her time, managed to greatly contribute to our understanding of the world.  It is already admirable to have been the first person ever to win two Nobel Prizes and the only person yet to have won them in different sciences (physics and chemistry)—knowing that Dr. Curie did so while battling misogyny and xenophobia from professional and nonprofessional sources alike demonstrates that she was as resilient as she was capable.

I like this quote because: It applicable to life to a surprisingly wide extent.  It goes without saying that a curiosity-promoting attitude furthers research and scientific discovery—yet, in light of the world's present circumstances and the negative news seemingly barraging us every day, attitudes such as Curie's have kept me motivated in remaining an informed and up-to-date citizen.  It is a deceptively easy course of action to turn off the news, disregard the world's problems, and shut oneself in—or else to choose a handful favored sources and content oneself with a limited informational range.  Yet, however difficult at first, I have ultimately found it far more rewarding to turn my curiosity towards current events and remain engaged with the world around me despite the unsettling nature of our time.

@Steven Zeldin, we have featured that in the past! :)

https://laidlawscholars.network/rooms/1283-leadership-quote-of-the-week/posts/nothing-is-to-be-feared-only-to-be-understood

@Diana Capone, I hadn't heard that Jack Welch quotation before. I love it. It is aligned with rule 14 of David Gilbertson's Wine Bar Theory: "Be More Responsible, Give Away Responsibility." I have always thought that the most important part of any of my CEO roles has been to spot potential stars, scoop them up and help them shine.

Quote: “…if you want to serve, you must begin by listening, not assuming. … We miss so much assuming we have the answers. Instead, learn to listen with your whole body. Listen with your ears, your eyes, all your senses. Listen not to convince or to convert, but to change yourself, spark your moral imagination, soften your hardened edges, and open yourself to the world.”

Leader: Jacqueline Novogratz

I admire this leader because of the love and compassion in her words, her authentically warm attitude towards others, and her joy in understanding and transforming herself to ultimately become a better global servant. Her story is profoundly touching and inspiring.

I like this quote because of the warm emotions and refreshing insights I experience any time I go back and read it. It is a gentle reminder to challenge my first impressions and my system of beliefs at any given moment, to maintain an open mind, to let my assumptions go, and settle into really being present and mindful about the messages others want me to take from our dialogues. 

Hi @Giammarco, I am a huge fan of Jacqueline's too. My copy of her new book the Moral Revolution is covered in yellow highlighter and scribbled notes. In the introduction she talks about the people she knows who have most changed the world and the values they demonstrate: "a voracious curiosity about the world and other people.... reservoirs of courage... stand for their beliefs even if they stand alone". These are our Laidlaw values: brave, curious, determined. We are hosting an "in conversation" with her on Thursday. I hope you will be able to join us. Do send me any questions she'd like to ask in advance or just post them during the webinar.

The Laidlaw Foundation is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: How To Be A Moral Leader: Join The Revolution 
Time: Jun 25, 2020 06:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99815199162?pwd=WWErbVZGRkI0UWFOVDhHdlJsT09IZz09

Hi @Susanna, it is nice to see that I am not alone. I know, her new book is wonderful, and it is just hard to stop underling, highlighting, and taking notes all the time. The quote you have mentioned resonated with me too because of its strong connection with our Laidlaw values. A few pages after that, when she writes about the Archuacos and the Cacao de Colombia, there is another quote that I think adds something to it: “…a moral commitment to remaining accountable to each other, to showing up, to listening.”

Thanks for sharing the Zoom meeting link. Although I feel a little bit nervous about choosing the right question, I am genuinely looking forward to the "in conversation" with her on Thursday.

Quote: "The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do."

Leader: Kobe Bryant

I admire this leader because: Kobe Bryant was undoubtedly the personification of dedication and diligence. His unwavering conviction in his vision to change the world by being the best at his sport inspires me to this day. Throughout his life he remained humble, tenacious, and always sought to reach back and uplift his community. Bearing the weight of being a role model for millions on top of being a father, he always stepped up to the plate with the type of charisma and words of wisdom that I aim to model.

I like this quote because: This quote embodies both the meaning and purpose of leadership. As I pursue a career in servant leadership, this quote beautifully puts into words the fuel to the fire that burns within me; to be the source of light and hope for my communities. To work not for self benefit and profit but for the uplifting of society into a world of currently unimaginable equity and sustainability.

Hi @Collins, we've actually already featured this quote back in January! https://laidlawscholars.network/rooms/1283-leadership-quote-of-the-week/posts/inspire-people-to-be-great

Quote: "When you see only problems, you are not seeing clearly"

Quote: "To beat your competition is relatively easy. To beat yourself- that's a never ending commitment". "I did not come this far only to come this far".

Leader: Phil Knight

I like this quote because: My personal values mostly pivot around ambition, humility, empathy and resilience. I constantly tell myself that in order to achieve and practice these values, I have to strive to become better with each passing day. My humility and ambition have to grow with me. I should always find a bigger mountain to climb and the only way to do this is to keep moving forward, to keep doing better. Pushing myself to become better and aim higher has not only enabled me to understand that while each of us might be an extremely minuscule part of the world, there lies enough power in each of us to make the world a better place. Hence, pushing myself to beat myself everyday, striving to become the best version of myself and potentially using that to pay all my privilege forward has been the primary purpose of my life for the last couple of years. 

Quote: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

Leader: Arthur Ashe Jr was an accomplished athlete and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. 

I admire this leader because of his resiliency and desire to pave the way for a better future. He was not scared to speak out against controversial topics from his time such as the South African Apartheid and HIV. 

I like this quote because I am part of the new cohort of scholars and still exploring the beginnings of my project. I am currently thinking about whether my project will do well and how I can start, and I know I am not alone in thinking about this. Bravery, one of the Laidlaw Scholar values, will help get us through this first hurdle and all we have to do is start with what we have. This quote gives me a sense of peace, and I hope other scholars feel the same way when they see it. Stay brave everyone!

Here's a link with more information about Arthur: https://arthurashe.ucla.edu/life-story/