Benjamin Akande, dean of the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology at Webster University, grew up under intense pressure to succeed, he said. But he used that pressure and fear of failure as a tool, said Akande, who spoke at the graduation for the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program on Sept. 19 at Emerson World Headquarters.
“I used failure as real-time feedback and didn’t allow it to define me,” he said. “One of the other lessons I learned is the importance of fear. It’s okay to be scared, because fear and being scared are the prerequisites to courage.”
Akande told the 66 leadership program graduates – professionals representing 39 companies – that they will experience much fear as they go through their careers, often not knowing when the next opportunity will arise. Many of the graduates were mid-level managers who hope to rise to the top ranks of their companies.
“Just realize that it’s a transitional process,” Akande said. “You will go from fear to courage to success. I think I’m living proof of that. And if opportunity doesn’t knock, I find a way to build a door.”
Yemi Akande-Bartsch joined her brother, Benjamin Akande, in addressing the graduating class.
“St. Louis is on the cusp on a revival,” said Akande-Bartsch, vice president of leadership and alumni programs at FOCUS St. Louis. “My vision of St. Louis is all of you in leadership positions, helping drive the agenda and policy along talent attraction and retention.”
The fellows began the yearlong leadership program last September, and every month they explored topics of diversity and inclusion. But they were also asked many personal questions, such as “Why are you here? Why are you alive?” said Rhonda Garrett, a manager at Anheuser-Busch InBev. These discussions undeniably had an effect on the fellows’ professional and personal growth, she said.
“None of us will leave the program the same way we entered,” Garrett said.
Fellow Caleb Chou of Peabody Energy said the group engaged their hearts and shared their professional dreams, along with the challenges they face. Honesty laid the foundation for their ability to grow this past year, he said.
“We had discussions that I would never thought I would have,” said Chou, earning some laughs from his graduating class. “I was most impressed by seeing your dedication to becoming better and seeing your communities become better.”
Last October, the initiative, which was launched in 2001, became part of the St. Louis Regional Chamber, said Valerie E. Patton, vice president of economic inclusion and executive director of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative.
Its role has now expanded to encompass four areas: offering leadership development throughout the region, creating a more welcoming and inclusive St. Louis, growing minority businesses, and leading efforts in talent attraction and retention.
However, the fellows program, now in its seventh year, remains the initiative’s flagship program. With this graduating class, there are now 317 alumni.
Patton announced that on Oct. 1, the initiative’s coordinator Rosalind Reese will be promoted to program manager of economic inclusion. She will manage the fellows program, alumni activities and the initiative’s leadership development opportunities.
“She has been with me for eight years, and she is the wind beneath my wings,” Patton said of Reese. “She makes it all happen.”
On Sept. 26, the new group of 70 fellows will start the yearlong program, she said.
Benjamin Akande said the initiative builds up a “bench” of leaders that our region needs to make those “unexpected plays” of growth and expansion.
“At some point in time, you will be able to get in the game,” Akande said. “In getting the game, you are going to be called to play when you least expect it. You are going to be called to play a powerful position, and you have to be ready.”
