Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Joe Alleva advised students Friday on how to be a successful leader in a world filled with adversity, scandal and economic pressures as part of the Flores MBA Program Distinguished Speaker Series.
Alleva said he decided to get his Masters in Business Administration because there were no jobs available at the time.
Students laughed when Alleva said they will never use their degree. However, he said, the pursuit of the degree “teaches you how to think and hopefully teaches you how to lead.”
Listening to people is one of the most important skills an effective leader must possess, according to Alleva.
He warned students not to let fame and fortune go to their heads but to remain the same people they are now.
“Some of you will be very successful. Don’t let that affect your ethics, values and morality,” Alleva said. “You can’t compromise your principles for the buck.”
He stressed the importance of keeping emotions controlled and leveled at all times, regardless of the ultimate outcome of a situation.
“Life is about staying even and staying in the middle,” Alleva said.
Money should not sway a person’s final decision on a job, Alleva said.
“Go to the one that will make you happy,” he said. “Life is too damn short to work a job you don’t enjoy.”
Alleva encouraged students to find a job that will inspire passion and lead them to “what you ultimately want to do.”
Alleva said the best part of his day is getting to know young people and “that’s what this is all about.”
Loyalty, time management and the ability to get along with people are all skills pertinent to life and being able to succeed, Alleva said.
Edward Watson, director and professor of the Flores MBA program, said speakers are chosen for the series because they are leaders in organizations.
Second-year MBA student Pravina Gurung said Alleva kept his speech short and to the point.
“The best advice he gave was to not lose your temper, and you are only as good as the people around you,” Gurung said.
Second-year MBA student Arpitha Prakash said Alleva gave an honest and objective presentation.
“The most important piece of advice he gave was don’t run behind the money, the money is going to flow behind you,” Prakash said.
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Contact Claire Caillier at [email protected]
Joe Alleva: ‘You can’t compromise your principles for the buck’
February 13, 2012