Shortly following his lecture in Robsham Theater, David McCullough adjourned to the Heights Room with about 110 Boston College donors, guests, and student volunteers to dine and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Carroll School of Management鈥檚聽Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics. And from the podium as well as around our table, present and former Winston Center participants expounded on the center鈥檚 mission.
鈥淲hat David McCullough said tonight, that none of us is self-made,鈥� recalled Brooks Barhydt MBA鈥�13, a former assistant director of the center, in his remarks. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 at the core of what鈥檚 being done at the Winston Center.鈥�
Bob Winston 鈥�60 spearheaded the founding of the center in 2007 to develop Boston College students into ethical leaders, which he believes are much needed in the global business world. 鈥淭here is no end to scandals,鈥� said Winston, who emceed the Heights Room dinner. He recalled that when the Winston Center鈥檚 creation was announced, he got a call from a stockbroker alum, who held up the phone to his office as his colleagues chanted, 鈥淲ay to go, 吃瓜网!鈥�
The Center promotes research on leadership and ethics by sponsoring Winston Fellows and visiting scholars, but it鈥檚 perhaps best known for its聽lecture programs, which bring to campus speakers who are leaders in a variety of fields and have a strong ethical sense. Eminent speakers over the years have included Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland; Eric Holder, the former U.S. attorney general; and Nobel Peace Prize鈥搘inning Iranian activist Shirin Ebadi.
For aspiring financial and business executives, the temptation will always be there to let 鈥渢he money go to their heads鈥� and turn into 鈥渢he Wolf of Wall Street,鈥� said Addison聽LeBeau 鈥�18, a marketing and information systems student. 鈥淪o to have something like this, a prominent Carroll School program that brings in speakers who are successful and ethical鈥攁nd are in fact successful聽because聽they鈥檙e ethical鈥攊t makes an impact.鈥�
And the center鈥檚 myriad programs make an impact not only on Carroll School students who are drawn to hear the stories and lessons of ethical leaders; they鈥檙e also formative for the volunteer student ambassadors who help promote and run the events. Lebau and others hang posters around campus and spread the word on social media, and through their involvement they get the chance to meet with their distinguished guests in relaxed, informal settings. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing learning experience,鈥� said Lebau, who is a student director of the ambassadors program.
Josh Reed 鈥�16 seconded that sentiment in his remarks. He, too, was a student director of the ambassadors, and 鈥渢he diversity of speakers I met changed my perspective on what it means to be a good leader, a good businessperson, and a good human being,鈥� said Reed, one of several alumni formerly involved with the center who returned to campus to celebrate its anniversary.
鈥淚鈥檓 originally from a small rural town in New Jersey, and I was more comfortable discussing the different types of chickens I was raising than having any sort of dialogue around leadership or ethics, let alone with some of the most influential and impressive people,鈥� said Reed, who is now an associate marketing manager at聽. 鈥淚t was a unique opportunity to hear respected speakers, but also a chance to grow as a person.鈥�
Reed addressed an assemblage that included Bob Winston and his wife, Judy, as well as聽Norman MBA鈥�82 and Monever Chambers, founders of the聽Chambers Lecture Series, and聽Charles 鈥�64 and Gloria Clough, MDiv鈥�90, MS鈥�96, founders of the聽Clough Colloquium, which brings some of the biggest names to campus (like McCullough). One thing Reed wanted all the donors to know: 鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring to see your generosity, and I can tell you without a doubt, it makes a very real, positive impact on a lot of students鈥� lives. It certainly did on mine.鈥�
鈥�Patrick L. Kennedy