❤️Most people are good. Choose curiosity over judgment. And never underestimate the power of making someone feel included.
On Wednesday, we welcomed Lisa Phillipson from Hospice of Southern Illinois to Gateway CEO, and as always, Lisa brought energy, honesty, and a whole lot of heart.
Lisa challenged our students to think about what leadership really looks like — and she started with her own story. Lisa attended a long list of schools during her early childhood before landing in Glen Carbon for middle school and eventually Edwardsville. Being the “new student” over and over again meant she often knew what it felt like to be left out. Those experiences shaped the way she sees people today. She encouraged our students to be CURIOUS about others.
Everyone has a story. Rather than being quick to judge, ask questions. Learn more. Listen. We each have biases, and we may be different from one another, but Lisa reminded us:
- Most people are good.
- We won't like everyone we work with — but we can still be fair, respectful, and good teammates.
- We talked about trust, too. Lisa had the students wad up a piece of paper and then try to flatten it back out. It was a simple but powerful picture of what happens when trust is broken. You can try to repair it, but the wrinkles remain.
- How we treat people matters.
- Within a team, be a good team player. Don't fall into a victim mentality. Show up self-aware. Pay attention to body language. Notice who is around you and make room for others.
- And, apparently, the handshake lesson from this week continues! Be confident. Make eye contact. Smile. Have a good handshake.
- And remember: we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. When people feel heard, they feel valued — and they're far less likely to leave a conversation frustrated.
- We also talked about personal brand as our students begin thinking about their future careers. For Lisa, that brand is rooted in faith, loyalty, community, and respect — including respecting the generations around us. Appreciate the fresh ideas of the young and the experience of those who have been around longer.
- When we communicate - Tone matters.
Then came one of my favorite moments. As we wrapped up, Lisa went around the room and asked each student about their favorite music. Journey. Ella Langley. Red Clay Strays. Fleetwood Mac.
So many different answers. So many different interests. So many different stories. That's what makes the world special.
The students loved Lisa's directness, her willingness to speak directly to each of them, and the way she made them feel seen.
Because we know Lisa is a HUGE Cardinals fan, we couldn't let her first visit with the Gateway CEO Class of 2027 happen without showing up in Cardinals gear and red! ❤️⚾
Thank you, Lisa, for investing in our students and challenging them to think differently about leadership, relationships, trust, and the way they show up in the world.
And yes... we promise to have the best escorts on the elevator next time!
#GatewayCEO #GatewayCEO2027 #Leadership #PersonalBrand #StudentEntrepreneurs #FutureLeaders #ChooseCuriosity #BuildTrust #RealWorldLearning
