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I
25
L
ong ago, Ralph Waldo Emerson
wrote, “Be ye an opener of doors,
for those who follow after ye.”
In my life, many doors have opened.
Throughout my journey in exploration,
in learning, in life, many doors were
opened for me, and there were other doors I
opened myself.
Today, I meet a great number of fellow
travelers who have lost that Bright Future
vision, yet every day, you and I work to live
our values: respect, love, inclusion, diversity,
listening and sharing; and all the while,
new opportunities, new questions, and new
doors open. I find great excitement opening
doors, and observing our younger generations
welcoming the journey as we move beyond
the walls, beyond the status-quo. When I say,
“To serve is to live,” our Millennials say, “Of
course!”
I have been fortunate enough to work with
leaders from the corporate, governmental
and social sectors who were inspired by this
challenge. One of the most valuable ways we
work to open the doors for others is through
the Hesselbein Global Academy for Student
Leadership and Civic Engagement.
Eight years ago, we asked ourselves what
would happen if, every year, 25 college
students were chosen from all over our
country and 25 from all over the world to
gather at the University of Pittsburgh.
Then, from remarkable, distinguished leaders
in all three sectors, mentors would be chosen,
one for every four or five students, and these
student-mentor teams would come to the
University for four days, live together, work
together, dream together, engage in leadership
dialogue, and provide community service that
would change their and our lives.
Because of the students’ experiences at the
Leadership Summit, or through the doors
that were opened to them, they shared
intentions on the work they would do,
in turn opening doors for others.
“I want to make the political system
of my country more transparent and
democratic and to improve the HDI
[human development index] of my
country, as India is 135th in the world.” -
2016 student from India
“I want to share the inspiration I have
received to help people realize that what
matters is not where you are coming from,
but how high your dreams can reach. I want
to lead by example and prove that the best
way to predict the future is to create it.” -
2016 student from Poland
“I will use this experience to add a component
of leadership to the curriculum at the science
park I work in as a mentor for children, our
future leaders.” - 2016 student from Ecuador
At the Hesselbein Academy, our mission is
to inspire, develop, and reward accomplished
student leaders to meet the challenges of
tomorrow, allowing us to embody Ralph
Waldo Emerson’s important words regarding
opening doors for others.
For eight years,our partnership with students,
faculty, mentors, colleges and universities
from all over the world has supported this
global initiative, has changed lives, and has
moved us beyond the old walls into that
Bright Future that is our new reality.
Frances Hesselbein, a Presidential Medal of Freedom
recipient, is the president and CEO of the Frances
Hesselbein Leadership Institute and editor-in-chief of
the award-winning quarterly journal, Leader to Leader,
as well as co-editor of 27 books translated into 29
languages. Twitter: @ToServeIsToLive
Opener of Doors
FrANCES HESSELBEiN
“Frances has inspired my leadership path for almost
two decades since my days as a student at our shared
alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh. Her grace
and wisdom gave me the courage to pursue my dreams
at work and in life. I’m forever grateful for all the time
she has spent with me and the many, many doors she
has opened.”
- Joan Snyder Kuhl
board member, Frances Hesselbein Institute and
co-author with Frances Hesselbein of
Peter Drucker’s Five Most Important Things