St. Thomas Aquinas Commencement speech in New York
Thank you ……….
It’s an honor and privilege to be part of this important and exciting day.
This is an amazing school !
Unique in the principles of service, mutual respect, responsibility and the the value of learning.
Thank you Dr. Fitzgerald, a great leader and innovator a bit of a maverick just like St. Thomas…
Following Dr Fitzgerald is a bit daunting but then I am reminded U 2 once opened for the Spice Girls.
And remember this is a team effort, thank you to the administration and faculty, who give clear priority to the classroom.
And very importantly, your parents, grand parents, extended family – who have all supported you and have worked hard for this day
So today say a special thank you, hug them a little longer.
I’ve been given a short time for this address – ten minutes to be precise – so in true MTV short attention span – (Twitter did not invent it – it was MTV) I have come up with three TOP 10 lists.
The first one deal with my background, the second one with my career highlights and the third talks about lessons learned.
Let’s get started….
My life can be described as a series of transitions --
Being brought up by a working single Mom in Miami to the regimen of West Point and the Army.
Then to Airborne and Ranger Training and Qualification.
To combat in the Vietnam War.
Then to commanding Nuclear Missiles in Italy during the Cold War.
After a decade serving in the US Military on to Harvard Business School.
From there to Television --helping build HBO into a cable – TV giant, criss-crossing the US as one of its first National Account Managers.
Then criss-crossing the World in building MTV Networks into a global business.
And finally the biggest transition of all – engaging in the effort to improve Global Health through multiple initiatives.
And last but not least as of this week becoming a published author.
My life has gone from Missiles to Music.
And from the Iron Curtain to the Red Carpet.
It has all been unconventional, unplanned and unpredictable.
When I was your age the things that defined my life didn’t even exist --
Cable TV
Facebook/Twitter
The Aids Epidemic
The Internet – itself
Just yesterday my 7-year old daughter came up to me to share her observation that her oldest sister (who is only 15) was born way back BEFORE the Internet
Changes are more and more compressed – the future will be here faster than you think and it will define your life, like it defined mine.
The lesson – be adaptable. In an uncertain World, adaptability will be the key to success.
Now my Top 10 Career Highlights ---
Building MTV Networks International into the largest global media network in the world consisting of 200 channels in 175 countries, with 2 Billion viewers, each one reflecting the local culture.
Bringing Music Channels (instead of Missiles) to Countries behind the Iron Curtain, opening up the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe to the rest of the World.
Being the first private businessman to address the United Nations General Assembly (2002) .
A private Meeting with Nelson Mandela during which we talked about the power of forgiveness as he helped us launch MTV Africa.
In a scene from Indiana Jones , toasting one by one with Cable Operators from Mongolia in the Forbidden City in Bejing, then singing “Madame Butterfly” and announcing loudly : “I regret I have but one liver to give to my company” before keeling over.
Singing with Bono and Bob Geldof in a Tokyo Karaoke Bar at
5 am, with me dressed as a Police Man -- and Bono as a Nurse.
Dinner in the Great Hall of Peoples in Bejing with my Boss Sumner Redstone, the owner of Viacom, telling the President of China that he’s had better chinese food in New York.
Paying hommage to the Major of Mecca for permission to launch MTV Arabia and promising to air the call to prayer five times per day on the channel.
Beyonce saying that her generation learned about HIV from MTV .
Dedicating a new state-of-the-art Hospital in Haiti after the Earthquake with the funds raised by MTV’s “Hope for Haiti Now” Concerts.
But we try not to take ourselves too seriously --
After all – I also brought Beavis and Butthead to Russia and Jersey Shore to Italy.
As you can see – it’s been a combination of trying to make a difference, while having fun and not taking life too seriously – remember the office is not always in the office.
And finally my Top 10 Lessons –
Love what you do – do what you Love.
Follow you heart , life is about passion.
Take risks, mistakes are OK, especially younger when the stakes are lower.
Hard work trumps raw talent.
Mozart practiced every day – Beyonce and Lady Gaga work non-stop.
Go global. Travel a lot – it’s cheap education with – NO homework.
Stay curious – you’ll never grow old if you keep learning.
As a Leader, be the first on the battlefield or problem. And the last one to leave.
Be quick to take the blame and slow to take credit.
Stand up for Tolerance and what you believe is right.
The World will test you – be brave !
Don’t always hang out with people who are like you – choose diversity – it will make you better !
Never accept NO for an answer.
Someone will always be telling you it’s not possible.
Lastly –
Have fun, keep a life balance, nurture friends and family.
While in South Africa last week – I walked the Townships and spent a day with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
He spoke of the tremendous uncertainty in the World today and also the power of young people.
Life can hit you hard, but remember it’s a cycle with up’s and down’s.
You are the power of youth.
You have energy and creativity.
You are adaptable.
You can change the World.
You all have the Hero inside of you.
And now you have education – soon a diploma !
We know what you can do – go forward, fulfill your destiny!
I wish you great success, make us proud – more importantly make yourselves proud !
Congratulations and Thank you !
