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Lessons for Leadership and Peace

SpeakerS:

Charlotte Jones, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner, Dallas Cowboys Football Club
Captain Christopher John “Chris” Cassidy, Retired United States Navy SEAL and Chief of the Astronaut Office, NASA
Ellyn MetCalf, Director, Center for Character Excellence, National Medal of Honor Museum
Command Master Chief Britt Slabinski, United States Navy SEAL

With Principal Programming Partner

“Choosing courage and leading in the moment can change someone's life; it can change communities, and we know it has changed the course of history. Courage is something within each of us, yet it looks different depending on who we are and the circumstances we face.” Ellyn Metcalf
“I made a promise to my teammate and all of us that have served in uniform, any uniform, and we make a promise to each other that we're going to take care of each other. I would be derelict in my responsibilities to my teammate if I didn't go and make an attempt to try, so we went and made an attempt.” Britt Slabinski
“We have this incredible platform in the NFL, and it's a responsibility to use that privilege and that visibility to make someone else's life better and to make our communities stronger.” Charlotte Jones
“What was so personally rewarding for me about time on the International Space Station is the international contribution of all the countries and all the different astronauts that are up there.” Christopher John "Chris" Cassidy

Key takeaways:

  • The importance of courage leadership: Leadership requires individuals to choose courage daily, not just in extraordinary situations. Character-driven leadership is vital for teaching the next generation about integrity and courage. Sharing stories of Medal of Honor recipients can help instill these values in youth. 
  • Empowering youth through valor: Sharing the stories of Medal of Honor recipients can inspire young people to develop strong character and values. There is a focus on digitizing these stories to reach children across the country. Currently, educational initiatives are reaching 29,000 schools to spread messages of character based on these stories. 
  • Unity and community building: Sports can serve as a unifying force that brings people together from all walks of life. Emphasizing shared values can address societal fractures and promote national unity. The Medal of Honor Museum aims to celebrate values of courage and honor to bring people together. 
  • Collaborative leadership and trust: Collaborative leadership and teamwork are essential in achieving common goals and ensuring security. Trust among team members is crucial; as in football, where a quarterback must trust his teammates to succeed. Both military and civilian sectors can benefit from leadership that emphasizes collaboration and mutual trust. 
  • Activating courage in daily life: Courage is inherent in everyone and manifests differently depending on circumstances. Encouraging individuals to activate their courage can lead to positive changes in communities.

Action items:

  • Stories of valor in education: Develop programs that include Medal of Honor recipients’ stories in school curricula to teach values of courage, integrity, and character. 
  • Promote character-driven leadership: Organizations should focus on leadership training that prioritizes character and integrity, inspiring future leaders to make courageous choices. 
  • Utilize community platforms to foster unity: Leverage sports and other community events as platforms to bring people together, transcending divisions and promoting shared values. 
  • Encourage collaborative leadership practices: Implement teamwork and trust-building initiatives in both professional and community settings to enhance collaboration and achieve common goals. 
  • Empower individuals to choose courage: Create campaigns and initiatives that encourage individuals to recognize opportunities to exhibit courage in their daily lives, contributing to positive societal change.