Stories
Stories
Bloomberg: Restoring Our Faith in Business and Government
In his address to HBS graduates at this year’s Class Day, Michael Bloomberg (MBA 1966) spoke about the degeneration of American political culture and the challenge it poses. “Now, the good news is: There is a solution,” he told the crowd, as reported by the Boston Globe. “In fact, I believe that the solution to our political problems is also the solution to our economic problems. And I can sum it up in one word: integrity.”
He offered graduates five ways that they could lead solutions to the current turmoil, including being honest in their work, aligning themselves with companies that are engaged in philanthropy—while not waiting to give back on their own. “I can just tell you after 50-plus years in business and government, people have a lot more respect for those who make a difference in society than they do for people who just make money,” he said. “And the networks that you will make through philanthropy will open up new opportunities for your career.”
Bloomberg also advised graduates not to undervalue their labor force (should they end up in an executive position) and to never self-deal. “Your reputation is everything,” he said. “Don’t sell it or trade it for anything.”
He went on to challenge HBS graduates to lead the way in “(r)estoring the faith that Americans have been losing in our economic and political systems.” “It will be up to you to help lead it—and it starts with renewing, in both business and government, our national sense of integrity,” he said.
Post a Comment
Related Stories
-
- 01 Mar 2007
- Alumni Stories
Courting the Poor
Re: Ricardo Reisen de Pinho (PMD 74); By: Julia Hanna -
- 01 Dec 2005
- Alumni Stories
The Deleterious Effects of Dirty Money
Re: Ray Baker (MBA 1960); By: Lewis I. Rice -
- 01 Mar 2007
- Alumni Stories
The Plight of the Global Poor
Re: Gustavo Herrero (MBA 1976); By: Garry Emmons -
- 01 Dec 2011
- Alumni Stories
Noted & Quoted
Re: Gerald Chertavian (MBA 1992); Carla Harris (MBA 1987); Steve Schwarzman (MBA 1972); Andrew Main Wilson (AMP 156)
Stories Featuring Mike Bloomberg
-
- 01 Mar 2007
- Alumni Stories
Eyeing the Dominoes?
Re: George Bush (MBA 1975); Mike Bloomberg (MBA 1966) -
- 24 Jul 2017
- The Economist Online
Back to School for Big-City Mayors
Re: Mike Bloomberg (MBA 1966) -
- 01 Jun 2018
- HBS Alumni Bulletin
Up by the Roots
Re: Maria Gotsch (MBA 1989); Nicholas Karvounis (MBA 2011); Walt Frye (MBA 2000); Brooks Gibbins (PMD 77); Mike Bloomberg (MBA 1966); Mitchell B. Weiss (Richard L. Menschel Professor of Management Practice); Josh Lerner (Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking); By: Alexander Gelfand; illustrations by Dan Page