Exerpts from Jackie Zachmeyer’s, Director of Global Finance, Ag Division for John Deere recent talk on campus that inspired Monmouth students to go global.

“It is so great to be back here at Monmouth College. It’s been several years since I’ve been on campus and it is really amazing the number of changes and improvements that have been made here. It’s almost like visiting a totally different college than when I was here in the late 80s. I was honored to be asked to speak at Homecoming as part of the Midwest Matters Forum. I’ll admit that when I was a college student at Monmouth, I really did not give the global marketplace much thought. I was more interested in working hard, playing hard and making sure I had a job after college. The late 80s was a difficult time to be entering the job market, much as it is now. But now, getting a global perspective in life and developing your own personal Global Mindset is something that I am passionate about. And I hope that in the next 30 minutes, you will understand why this became important to me and why I believe it should also be important to each of you in this room. Because if you’ve come here today, unless you’re just here for the extra credit, you have an interest in globalization – whether it is from an economic standpoint or an educational standpoint. I would tell you that my interest is from a personal standpoint, why I believe I have developed into a more knowledgeable person as a result of my experiences outside the US. Let me start with providing you a little bit of my background… I grew up in Milan, not Milan, Illinois and went to Sherrard High School. If you are not familiar with Sherrard, it is a small high school in a farming community in Illinois. Most of the people that attended Sherrard were from similar backgrounds – socio-economically, geographically and culturally. We had one exchange student a year from a foreign country so that was the extent of my exposure to people from different parts of the World. Then I chose to go to Monmouth College. Why? Because the size appealed to me, the friendliness of the students, the professors and also, I would have a chance to be involved in campus activities. So it was well within my comfort zone to decide to go to Monmouth. After college I went to work with KPMG in Davenport, Iowa. And deciding to live and work in the Quad Cities, my hometown, was also well within my comfort zone. After a few years I joined John Deere and expected to live and work in the Quad Cities the rest of my life. But then they talked me into moving to Waterloo, Iowa and subsequently I moved back and forth between Waterloo and the Quad Cities. So my exposure to diversity-cultural diversity and diversity of thought did not really expand in those first 36 years of my life. I really had experienced very little of the World. Then Deere asked me to move to Welland, Canada, an opportunity to experience a new country. When I moved to Canada, I took the chance to step out of my geographic comfort zone. I didn’t realize it was also different culturally as well. For the first time I had multiple nationalities working for me in Canada – Canadians obviously, but also someone from CZ and India. They describe the US as a ‘melting pot’, where immigrants’ cultures are melted together to form America. In Canada they describe themselves as a ‘mixed salad’, where different cultures are brought together and retain their identity and culture. These different cultures coexist in one of the most diverse countries in the World. This was my first time living outside the US and was a chance to experience the ‘mixed salad’ environment and the Canadian approach to life. Which was slightly more relaxed than the US, where work-life balance was a bit more important, there was a different political and health care system and Hockey Night in Canada was the national past time. It was good preparation for the next big step – moving to Germany. I had been in Canada for 2 ½ years when I was asked to move to Germany and take over European Regional responsibility for Finance & Accounting. I had not asked to live and work in Europe, so the request by the Company to move to Germany came as a complete surprise to me. In fact, when I received the call about the location of my next job, I assumed it was going to be back in the US. I had about 3 days to make this major decision (luckily this covered the weekend, a very sleepless weekend) – this was WAY out of my comfort zone – different language, different culture, an ocean separating me and my family and I knew no one over there. Not anyone that would be working for me, none of my colleagues and none of the other Americans that were already over there. During the weekend I talked with my parents – they were very supportive of whatever my decision would be, even though it would be hard for them to imagine their child living in Europe. My current Manager had done an expatriate assignment in Germany. He helped reassure me that it would be a great experience and that I could do it. My husband was also very supportive and actually gave me the boost I needed to make this huge leap out of my comfort zone. So, with this support of family and friends, I made the decision to ‘go for it’ and move to Europe. And I can honestly say that the 4 years in Germany have been life changing – both personally and professionally. Here’s why: You remember what I said about my lack of exposure to different cultures growing up? Well now I was in a completely different culture, trying to learn how to communicate, work with and even more challenging, manage people that grew up different than me. This meant that we didn’t have the same reference points – I couldn’t use American slang – like “this will be a slam dunk”. I tried that in one meeting and I could see that a few people had confused looks on their face. I asked about this and they explained that they thought a “slam dunk” was difficult, because not many people could slam a basketball. This interpretation completely changed the meaning of what I was trying to convey. Also in Europe, there are many different cultures, so behaviors of Germans, French, Spanish, Russian, etc differ – what matters to these cultures are different – some want data and precision, others are more emotional and passionate in discussions and “go with their gut” when making decisions. And then there is the fact that they approach problem solving differently – some are more process oriented, or want a lot of detail, others are used to doing “whatever it takes” to get something done. So, at work I learned how to motivate and influence folks from different cultures and different backgrounds. And I learned to appreciate different approaches to problems, different perspectives to an issue and different educational backgrounds that caused me to stop and examine my own paradigms and perspectives. It wasn’t always easy and I had to realize that everyone in the country wasn’t going to change… I had to change. I had to develop my cultural sensitivity if I wanted to be successful. I also came to appreciate the benefits of having a diverse team working together. This diversity brought different ideas and perspectives to the table. Something that would not have been as likely if everyone looked the same and had the same experiences. In the end I believe this team diversity makes for a better outcome. And outside of work I learned how to communicate what I needed, even if I only spoke a few words of their language, and to appreciate the European approach – to art, culture and all of the wonderful diversity of people, and food, in Europe. Then, I was asked to take on my current job. This brought a whole new challenge – I was now managing people across different continents – Germany, South America and Mexico. And I had dotted line Finance & Accounting responsibility for facilities in more parts of the World – India, China, South America, Mexico and the US. And relating to the Europeans started to seem easy compared to Brazil, India and China. But what an amazing experience! To have responsibility for Finance & Accounting in each of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) each brings different challenges and also eye-opening experiences. Something I would have never had the opportunity to see or do if I would have remained in the Quad Cities all of my life. I’d like to give you just one example from each of these BRIC countries. Brazil – in this country, it is compulsory for everyone aged 18-65 to vote. This is a picture of the voting lines in the recent Presidential election. This is an interesting approach – if you do not vote you are fined and if you choose not to pay the fine, you cannot get an identity card (like a driver’s license or passport), hold a public job, take a loan in a public bank or register at a public school. In a country of about 195M people, over 136 MILLION people, or about 80% of the eligible voters, vote in the elections. Now we’re in the heart of election time here in the US, think how things might be different in our country, if 80% of the eligible people voted in every election… Russia – understanding the background of this country and what people have lived through – communism, food lines and never knowing if what they have today will be there tomorrow, helps to understand the decisions that individuals make – at work and in life. I once had a young Russian co-worker explain that they do not value Pensions in Russia-the people don’t trust that the government or a company will really save something for them for later in life. And they don’t trust that what they have today in the bank will be worth as much in the future. So saving isn’t a concept that motivates them, in fact, they spend their money because they would rather have “things” now than the possibility of having them in the future. So owning more and better things – clothes, watches and cars is highly motivating to them. People in this country often move from job to job for just a little more money – the country is expanding and educated individuals have huge opportunities. India – Incredible India! The Power of Ambition is amazing in this country. I traveled to India for the first time 2 years ago. How many of you have seen “Slumdog Millionaire”? The conditions were not exaggerated. I was fortunate enough to travel to a small village and see for myself the many aspects of this incredible country. In one small village an elderly woman came up to me in the street and touched my face because she had never seen a pale faced, fair haired female before. There are also the large cities where there are clearly the “have’s” and the “have nots”. However, in these incredibly difficult living conditions, the children are dressed for school in clean, neat clothes. They go to school for 6 days a week and study 7 days a week to have a better life. When I met a classroom of 7 year olds from the poorest areas of the town we visited, they came up to me, shook my hand, introduced themselves and wanted to know my name. They could not wait to show me their school projects and what they were working on. When asked what their parents did – it was window washing, flower picking, cleaning homes. When asked what they wanted to do – it was doctor, teacher and policeman. These children live in conditions worse than we can imagine and yet they have the desire and ambition unlike anywhere I had ever seen before. It was amazing! The “Power of Ambition” and their education system will drive these children for many years to come. In this country, young people want to continually be challenged and developed, because that is what they are expecting and needing, in order to have a better life. What do you think this “Power of Ambition” means to the rest of the World? China – A much different country than the other 3 in many respects. You watched the Beijing Olympics? The Opening Ceremony? If India is the “Power of Ambition”, then China is the “Power of the Government”, the power to fund building projects such as the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube, to fund infrastructure and subsidize entire industries in order to ensure continued economic growth in their country. For many Companies, having strong Governmental Relations at many different levels, local, provincial and national is important. And this “Power of the Government” is also helpful in understanding how the government and the people interact. This is a picture I took of a monument in a Chinese garden. It was explained by our tour guide that the dragon is the government. The toad, sitting under the dragon’s mouth, represents the people. The people are the toad, living off the saliva of the dragon (the government). The monument now brings the “Power of Government” into something you can really envision. So…hopefully I have given you a taste of what it can mean to develop a “global mindset”. It means first being exposed to differences, recognizing them, appreciating those differences and then learning from them. As you develop a Global Mindset one thing you learn is that just because something is different, doesn’t mean it is “wrong”. Because in who’s context is it “wrong”? Our Midwestern Mindset? With a Global Mindset you can look at the context of why something is different and learn how this perspective can help you approach problems, people and challenges in different ways. And remember, you are never done expanding this Global Mindset. As you continue to travel and explore global perspectives, you continue to develop and expand your Global Mindset – think of it as “lifelong learning”. I am a good example of moving from a Midwestern Mindset to a more Global Mindset. JD took a young female from the Midwest with no real international experience and sent me first to Canada and then to Europe. They also spent the money to send me to a program called Global 2020-a one year program at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, with a team of 10 people from JD and teams from 3 other MNC. We had learning sessions at Dartmouth, India and China. This, along with my daily experiences of working with people in and around the world has developed my cultural awareness and greatly increased my exposure to diverse thoughts, solutions and approaches to situations. It has also helped me form perspectives on doing business and competing on a Global basis. When I was finishing my Global 2020 program it finally hit me. The reason JD had invested in my development and sent me to live and work in foreign countries and go through the Global 2020 program was to help me develop this Global Mindset and maybe even more importantly to teach and develop others as Leaders in our rapidly expanding global environment –to pass on my experiences from the various parts of the world and help develop future leaders with a Global Mindset. It also meant that I could ‘walk the talk’ and encourage people to get out of their comfort zone and have an experience outside of their home country or at least be aware of and appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce. Because it doesn’t matter if you are from Illinois, China, Brazil, Mexico, Canada or Europe – having this global perspective is more and more important each day. If you take this global perspective and mix it with the ability to quantitatively reason and use data to develop solutions, then you personally develop a great tool set for solving problems. And you don’t have to be a business major or even work in business to benefit from this mix of a Global Mindset and the ability to analyze an issue. Whether you are in HR, Finance, Supply Management, a volunteer for a local community or even a politician – having a global perspective and analytical skills allows you to contribute to the success of your Company and your Community. Because now more than ever, each of us needs to understand that we are competing globally – on an individual basis – for jobs, on a Company basis we’re now competing globally for customers, against global competitors and as a Region, we have to compete globally for business investments in our community that helps our communities thrive and grow. So my challenge to you: 1. You chose MC likely for some of the same reasons that I did – to participate-in sports, in class, on campus. So use this opportunity to lead – don’t just wait for others to do something. I was very active in Leadership roles in Pi Phi and it was a wonderful opportunity to learn leadership skills that helped me a great deal later in life. And in a recent discussion with a group of Monmouth alumni currently working at JD, one of the most prevalent comments was that these young folks wished they had been more active on campus, especially in leadership roles. Because now they are seeing how that experience would have helped them later in life. 2. The second challenge is to get out of your comfort zone and take risks by exploring different cultures and different places, whether that’s by participating in a service project, studying abroad or going on a school sponsored trip. Take classes that you aren’t normally drawn to, even if you know they will be difficult for you. When I was at Monmouth I was able to arrange my courses so that I received a minor in Communications. One of the classes I dreaded the most was Advanced Public Speaking…but I knew I would need it-for my leadership roles in Pi Phi and beyond. So I took it, I survived and now I’m very grateful for that foundational class I had at Monmouth. 3. Third Challenge is to Experience Diversity – it’s really easy to make friends and hang out with people like us – same interests, same background, same upbringing. Monmouth College is working to increase the diversity of its student body every year because they realize the benefits of having diverse students and the richness it adds to the learning environment. So take the opportunity at college or in society to make friends with people that aren’t the same as you, I can guarantee you that you will learn something from them, and they will learn something from you. 4. Finally, teach others what you have learned from your experiences at college and during your travels, as you work to develop your Global Mindset. Give back to your community, your school, your place of work or your family. By getting out of your comfort zone and deliberately developing your Global Mindset, you will grow and have many life experiences that are worth sharing and teaching to others. Think about how you can make a difference. Remember, I was like many of you, a Midwesterner from a small school, who never considered living or working outside the US when I was growing up. But here I am today, having traveled to X number of different countries all within the last X years. And it’s an opportunity I never would have had if I hadn’t taken that leap 4 years ago and moved to Europe. You have all the opportunities and options in the World, how are YOU going to develop YOUR Global Mindset and make a difference? o great to be back here at Monmouth College. It’s been several years since I’ve been on campus and it is really amazing the number of changes and improvements that have been made here. It’s almost like visiFrom a Midwestern Mindset to a Global Mindset It is so great to be back here at Monmouth College. It’s been several years since I’ve been on campus and it is really amazing the number of changes and improvements that have been made here. It’s almost like visiting a totally different college than when I was here in the late 80s. I was honored to be asked to speak at Homecoming as part of the Midwest Matters Forum. I’ll admit that when I was a college student at Monmouth, I really did not give the global marketplace much thought. I was more interested in working hard, playing hard and making sure I had a job after college. The late 80s was a difficult time to be entering the job market, much as it is now. But now, getting a global perspective in life and developing your own personal Global Mindset is something that I am passionate about. And I hope that in the next 30 minutes, you will understand why this became important to me and why I believe it should also be important to each of you in this room. Because if you’ve come here today, unless you’re just here for the extra credit, you have an interest in globalization – whether it is from an economic standpoint or an educational standpoint. I would tell you that my interest is from a personal standpoint, why I believe I have developed into a more knowledgeable person as a result of my experiences outside the US. Let me start with providing you a little bit of my background… I grew up in Milan, not Milan, Illinois and went to Sherrard High School. If you are not familiar with Sherrard, it is a small high school in a farming community in Illinois. Most of the people that attended Sherrard were from similar backgrounds – socio-economically, geographically and culturally. We had one exchange student a year from a foreign country so that was the extent of my exposure to people from different parts of the World. Then I chose to go to Monmouth College. Why? Because the size appealed to me, the friendliness of the students, the professors and also, I would have a chance to be involved in campus activities. So it was well within my comfort zone to decide to go to Monmouth. After college I went to work with KPMG in Davenport, Iowa. And deciding to live and work in the Quad Cities, my hometown, was also well within my comfort zone. After a few years I joined John Deere and expected to live and work in the Quad Cities the rest of my life. But then they talked me into moving to Waterloo, Iowa and subsequently I moved back and forth between Waterloo and the Quad Cities. So my exposure to diversity-cultural diversity and diversity of thought did not really expand in those first 36 years of my life. I really had experienced very little of the World. Then Deere asked me to move to Welland, Canada, an opportunity to experience a new country. When I moved to Canada, I took the chance to step out of my geographic comfort zone. I didn’t realize it was also different culturally as well. For the first time I had multiple nationalities working for me in Canada – Canadians obviously, but also someone from CZ and India. They describe the US as a ‘melting pot’, where immigrants’ cultures are melted together to form America. In Canada they describe themselves as a ‘mixed salad’, where different cultures are brought together and retain their identity and culture. These different cultures coexist in one of the most diverse countries in the World. This was my first time living outside the US and was a chance to experience the ‘mixed salad’ environment and the Canadian approach to life. Which was slightly more relaxed than the US, where work-life balance was a bit more important, there was a different political and health care system and Hockey Night in Canada was the national past time. It was good preparation for the next big step – moving to Germany. I had been in Canada for 2 ½ years when I was asked to move to Germany and take over European Regional responsibility for Finance & Accounting. I had not asked to live and work in Europe, so the request by the Company to move to Germany came as a complete surprise to me. In fact, when I received the call about the location of my next job, I assumed it was going to be back in the US. I had about 3 days to make this major decision (luckily this covered the weekend, a very sleepless weekend) – this was WAY out of my comfort zone – different language, different culture, an ocean separating me and my family and I knew no one over there. Not anyone that would be working for me, none of my colleagues and none of the other Americans that were already over there. During the weekend I talked with my parents – they were very supportive of whatever my decision would be, even though it would be hard for them to imagine their child living in Europe. My current Manager had done an expatriate assignment in Germany. He helped reassure me that it would be a great experience and that I could do it. My husband was also very supportive and actually gave me the boost I needed to make this huge leap out of my comfort zone. So, with this support of family and friends, I made the decision to ‘go for it’ and move to Europe. And I can honestly say that the 4 years in Germany have been life changing – both personally and professionally. Here’s why: You remember what I said about my lack of exposure to different cultures growing up? Well now I was in a completely different culture, trying to learn how to communicate, work with and even more challenging, manage people that grew up different than me. This meant that we didn’t have the same reference points – I couldn’t use American slang – like “this will be a slam dunk”. I tried that in one meeting and I could see that a few people had confused looks on their face. I asked about this and they explained that they thought a “slam dunk” was difficult, because not many people could slam a basketball. This interpretation completely changed the meaning of what I was trying to convey. Also in Europe, there are many different cultures, so behaviors of Germans, French, Spanish, Russian, etc differ – what matters to these cultures are different – some want data and precision, others are more emotional and passionate in discussions and “go with their gut” when making decisions. And then there is the fact that they approach problem solving differently – some are more process oriented, or want a lot of detail, others are used to doing “whatever it takes” to get something done. So, at work I learned how to motivate and influence folks from different cultures and different backgrounds. And I learned to appreciate different approaches to problems, different perspectives to an issue and different educational backgrounds that caused me to stop and examine my own paradigms and perspectives. It wasn’t always easy and I had to realize that everyone in the country wasn’t going to change… I had to change. I had to develop my cultural sensitivity if I wanted to be successful. I also came to appreciate the benefits of having a diverse team working together. This diversity brought different ideas and perspectives to the table. Something that would not have been as likely if everyone looked the same and had the same experiences. In the end I believe this team diversity makes for a better outcome. And outside of work I learned how to communicate what I needed, even if I only spoke a few words of their language, and to appreciate the European approach – to art, culture and all of the wonderful diversity of people, and food, in Europe. Then, I was asked to take on my current job. This brought a whole new challenge – I was now managing people across different continents – Germany, South America and Mexico. And I had dotted line Finance & Accounting responsibility for facilities in more parts of the World – India, China, South America, Mexico and the US. And relating to the Europeans started to seem easy compared to Brazil, India and China. But what an amazing experience! To have responsibility for Finance & Accounting in each of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) each brings different challenges and also eye-opening experiences. Something I would have never had the opportunity to see or do if I would have remained in the Quad Cities all of my life. I’d like to give you just one example from each of these BRIC countries. Brazil – in this country, it is compulsory for everyone aged 18-65 to vote. This is a picture of the voting lines in the recent Presidential election. This is an interesting approach – if you do not vote you are fined and if you choose not to pay the fine, you cannot get an identity card (like a driver’s license or passport), hold a public job, take a loan in a public bank or register at a public school. In a country of about 195M people, over 136 MILLION people, or about 80% of the eligible voters, vote in the elections. Now we’re in the heart of election time here in the US, think how things might be different in our country, if 80% of the eligible people voted in every election… Russia – understanding the background of this country and what people have lived through – communism, food lines and never knowing if what they have today will be there tomorrow, helps to understand the decisions that individuals make – at work and in life. I once had a young Russian co-worker explain that they do not value Pensions in Russia-the people don’t trust that the government or a company will really save something for them for later in life. And they don’t trust that what they have today in the bank will be worth as much in the future. So saving isn’t a concept that motivates them, in fact, they spend their money because they would rather have “things” now than the possibility of having them in the future. So owning more and better things – clothes, watches and cars is highly motivating to them. People in this country often move from job to job for just a little more money – the country is expanding and educated individuals have huge opportunities. India – Incredible India! The Power of Ambition is amazing in this country. I traveled to India for the first time 2 years ago. How many of you have seen “Slumdog Millionaire”? The conditions were not exaggerated. I was fortunate enough to travel to a small village and see for myself the many aspects of this incredible country. In one small village an elderly woman came up to me in the street and touched my face because she had never seen a pale faced, fair haired female before. There are also the large cities where there are clearly the “have’s” and the “have nots”. However, in these incredibly difficult living conditions, the children are dressed for school in clean, neat clothes. They go to school for 6 days a week and study 7 days a week to have a better life. When I met a classroom of 7 year olds from the poorest areas of the town we visited, they came up to me, shook my hand, introduced themselves and wanted to know my name. They could not wait to show me their school projects and what they were working on. When asked what their parents did – it was window washing, flower picking, cleaning homes. When asked what they wanted to do – it was doctor, teacher and policeman. These children live in conditions worse than we can imagine and yet they have the desire and ambition unlike anywhere I had ever seen before. It was amazing! The “Power of Ambition” and their education system will drive these children for many years to come. In this country, young people want to continually be challenged and developed, because that is what they are expecting and needing, in order to have a better life. What do you think this “Power of Ambition” means to the rest of the World? China – A much different country than the other 3 in many respects. You watched the Beijing Olympics? The Opening Ceremony? If India is the “Power of Ambition”, then China is the “Power of the Government”, the power to fund building projects such as the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube, to fund infrastructure and subsidize entire industries in order to ensure continued economic growth in their country. For many Companies, having strong Governmental Relations at many different levels, local, provincial and national is important. And this “Power of the Government” is also helpful in understanding how the government and the people interact. This is a picture I took of a monument in a Chinese garden. It was explained by our tour guide that the dragon is the government. The toad, sitting under the dragon’s mouth, represents the people. The people are the toad, living off the saliva of the dragon (the government). The monument now brings the “Power of Government” into something you can really envision. So…hopefully I have given you a taste of what it can mean to develop a “global mindset”. It means first being exposed to differences, recognizing them, appreciating those differences and then learning from them. As you develop a Global Mindset one thing you learn is that just because something is different, doesn’t mean it is “wrong”. Because in who’s context is it “wrong”? Our Midwestern Mindset? With a Global Mindset you can look at the context of why something is different and learn how this perspective can help you approach problems, people and challenges in different ways. And remember, you are never done expanding this Global Mindset. As you continue to travel and explore global perspectives, you continue to develop and expand your Global Mindset – think of it as “lifelong learning”. I am a good example of moving from a Midwestern Mindset to a more Global Mindset. JD took a young female from the Midwest with no real international experience and sent me first to Canada and then to Europe. They also spent the money to send me to a program called Global 2020-a one year program at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, with a team of 10 people from JD and teams from 3 other MNC. We had learning sessions at Dartmouth, India and China. This, along with my daily experiences of working with people in and around the world has developed my cultural awareness and greatly increased my exposure to diverse thoughts, solutions and approaches to situations. It has also helped me form perspectives on doing business and competing on a Global basis. When I was finishing my Global 2020 program it finally hit me. The reason JD had invested in my development and sent me to live and work in foreign countries and go through the Global 2020 program was to help me develop this Global Mindset and maybe even more importantly to teach and develop others as Leaders in our rapidly expanding global environment –to pass on my experiences from the various parts of the world and help develop future leaders with a Global Mindset. It also meant that I could ‘walk the talk’ and encourage people to get out of their comfort zone and have an experience outside of their home country or at least be aware of and appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce. Because it doesn’t matter if you are from Illinois, China, Brazil, Mexico, Canada or Europe – having this global perspective is more and more important each day. If you take this global perspective and mix it with the ability to quantitatively reason and use data to develop solutions, then you personally develop a great tool set for solving problems. And you don’t have to be a business major or even work in business to benefit from this mix of a Global Mindset and the ability to analyze an issue. Whether you are in HR, Finance, Supply Management, a volunteer for a local community or even a politician – having a global perspective and analytical skills allows you to contribute to the success of your Company and your Community. Because now more than ever, each of us needs to understand that we are competing globally – on an individual basis – for jobs, on a Company basis we’re now competing globally for customers, against global competitors and as a Region, we have to compete globally for business investments in our community that helps our communities thrive and grow. So my challenge to you: 1. You chose MC likely for some of the same reasons that I did – to participate-in sports, in class, on campus. So use this opportunity to lead – don’t just wait for others to do something. I was very active in Leadership roles in Pi Phi and it was a wonderful opportunity to learn leadership skills that helped me a great deal later in life. And in a recent discussion with a group of Monmouth alumni currently working at JD, one of the most prevalent comments was that these young folks wished they had been more active on campus, especially in leadership roles. Because now they are seeing how that experience would have helped them later in life. 2. The second challenge is to get out of your comfort zone and take risks by exploring different cultures and different places, whether that’s by participating in a service project, studying abroad or going on a school sponsored trip. Take classes that you aren’t normally drawn to, even if you know they will be difficult for you. When I was at Monmouth I was able to arrange my courses so that I received a minor in Communications. One of the classes I dreaded the most was Advanced Public Speaking…but I knew I would need it-for my leadership roles in Pi Phi and beyond. So I took it, I survived and now I’m very grateful for that foundational class I had at Monmouth. 3. Third Challenge is to Experience Diversity – it’s really easy to make friends and hang out with people like us – same interests, same background, same upbringing. Monmouth College is working to increase the diversity of its student body every year because they realize the benefits of having diverse students and the richness it adds to the learning environment. So take the opportunity at college or in society to make friends with people that aren’t the same as you, I can guarantee you that you will learn something from them, and they will learn something from you. 4. Finally, teach others what you have learned from your experiences at college and during your travels, as you work to develop your Global Mindset. Give back to your community, your school, your place of work or your family. By getting out of your comfort zone and deliberately developing your Global Mindset, you will grow and have many life experiences that are worth sharing and teaching to others. Think about how you can make a difference. Remember, I was like many of you, a Midwesterner from a small school, who never considered living or working outside the US when I was growing up. But here I am today, having traveled to X number of different countries all within the last X years. And it’s an opportunity I never would have had if I hadn’t taken that leap 4 years ago and moved to Europe. You have all the opportunities and options in the World, how are YOU going to develop YOUR Global Mindset and make a difference?