Remarkable Person Series: My Favorite University President

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Greg Jones, the President of Belmont University, asked me an interesting question. It was clear, as often happens, I was to be his straight man for a point he wanted to land with a critical group for an initiative he had in mind. Greg and I got to know and like each other when we were both deans as Duke. People think of us both as a bit crazy, in a good way I think. His began with a compliment. “Della Bradshaw, a reporter at financial times once called you the most innovative business educator alive, the greatest risk taker at the time. When you and I discussed this once you indicated that you are actually not a risk taker, you do not like risk. How do you reconcile her statement and yours?” He knew what my answer would be, “Greg, none of the things I have been a part of creating entailed strategic risk, if you understood the trend you knew it was obvious. There was, of course, always executional risk, something I had control over, but never strategic risk.” He asked me to elaborate with a few examples, which I did. And then looking around the group, he smiled and asked about the trends today. He had a pretty good sense what my answers would be and knew he could guide them where he wanted. His goal was to have someone other than himself outline the logic for an impressive initiative he wanted to launch. And speaking with people afterward it worked. There are few people in the world I would be such a willing shill for, but always Greg, he is my favorite University President. 

You see, he too is a student of profound trends, a man of great character and a bit of an entrepreneur. Those characteristics found him innovating constantly as an academic leader. This idea though was his best yet. As we discussed energy issues and climate change, rapid technology change, demography, a fractured world and their implications he began to frame his questions in the context of Belmont and what it could do. No one institution can tackle all of the implications of these trends, thus it was essential to discover where Belmont had unique advantage to help. Belmont is unique is some very interesting ways. Most importantly it is a faith based institution, one where nearly everyone involved is pursuing a deeper understanding of virtue and cares about the world deeply. Partly because it is in Nashville, the music and healthcare center of the United States, and partly because of previous leadership Belmont is especially strong in the performing arts and had just built a new medical school. And Belmont is deeply embedded in the community of Nashville and Tennessee. He landed our conversation when I said two things. Nashville should not try to be the next Silicon Valley, but the next Silicon Valley that cared and Belmont could be central to that effort. The initiative he wanted to discuss with the group that day he called Belmont Ventures. But it was a much deeper idea.

Imagine a separate entity, wholly owned by Belmont, that convened a combination of great thinkers, people who had demonstrated success in building things in the world, concerned citizens and policymakers and students to discuss how to address in tangible manner three elements of our conversation that Belmont was well suited to help with. A fractured world, in that arts and entertainment could be a very strong tool in finding ways to bring people who do not really understand one another together. Healthcare because Belmont was strong in all aspects of healthcare and Nashville was a healthcare hub. And climate change and the need for new patterns of energy, because it was just such an important topic. The discussions would start with deepening the understanding of one of these issues and evolve to identifying tangible initiatives that could make a real dent in the problems. The second element involves bringing entrepreneurs, funding, faculty and students together to make these initiatives real. The offer to investors being a decent return and a chance to make a real difference. Here is where Belmont’s faith based element is critically important. People with money associated with Belmont care, they want to help make the world a better place. All of this to be a living laboratory for the education of Belmont students across all disciplines. His goal being to having Belmont be a major force for positive change, while building the university of the future. And I bet he succeeds, because he is Greg. You see now why he is my favorite University President. 

Principle 1: Understand the Trends. You will learn how value is being destroyed for your sector, country or career; what your purpose should be on an ongoing basis and what the options are for creating new value in the very near future.