Jonathan Reckford, in commencement address, offers insights about weathering “storms” of life
Jonathan Reckford addresses graduates of Stanford GSB. | Best Grad Photos
On a pristine day showered with sunshine, the commencement ceremony for Stanford Graduate School of Business on June 15 featured an address by Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, who emphasized the importance of character and understanding one’s true self.
“You are a group of high achievers, and high achievers are especially good at reputation management,” said Reckford, MBA ‘89. “But one of the greatest risks of reputation management is allowing a gap between your public persona and your inner self. That gap is where all the bad stuff happens.
“You’ll be shocked that I’m going to use a housing analogy, but if your family, career, and service are the house, your values are the foundation on which those are built. You don’t see the foundation, but it is essential to the integrity of the home. There will be storms, and when they happen, they reveal the strength of your foundation.”
For Reckford, one of those “storms” arrived during his first year as a student at Stanford GSB when his mother died suddenly. “I had to take several weeks off — and even considered dropping out — but the school and my friends were so supportive, and I remain grateful to the Stanford community for the compassion and understanding.”
“The values that define each of us are incredibly personal. I’ve lost jobs and faced intergenerational challenges with mental health and depression in my family — but for me, my identity in my faith has allowed me to keep perspective on my temptations to put too much stock into my possessions, career and reputation. It was the willingness to give up all three that eventually led me to my dream vocation at Habitat.”
Reckford noted that “picking the right role models” is critical to the growth of one’s character “and character is critical to picking the right role models.”
He said his colorful, strong-willed grandmother stood out among his many influences. Millicent Fenwick was a civil and human rights pioneer and a New Jersey congresswoman “who encouraged me from a young age to care for the lost and left out in the world — and she did it in her own unique way.”
Her dedication to social justice was a powerful source of inspiration for Reckford, who became CEO at Habitat for Humanity in 2005. Since then, the organization has grown from serving 125,000 people annually to more than 13 million each year.
“While Habitat is known as a nonprofit builder,” Reckford said, “many people don’t know that we also have billions in mortgages, run over 1,000 retail stores and created the affordable housing asset class in global microfinance.”
Class of 2024 Stanford GSB graduates at commencement | Best Grad Photos
Stanford GSB Dean Jonathan Levin, who will depart on August 1 to become president of Stanford University, used his commencement remarks to underscore the fundamental principles of free speech and thought.
A cornerstone of higher education, Levin said, “is that everyone has the freedom to explore, to pursue the areas and ideas that interest them, to think for themselves, to reach their own conclusions.
“That freedom is fundamental to American universities. It’s why Stanford’s motto is: “The Wind of Freedom Blows.” It’s the reason so many of you traveled halfway around the world to be here.”
The second cornerstone, he said, “is that we bring an open mind, and respect the different interests, ideas, and passions of the people around us. That we support their freedom to explore and learn. That is what allows us to be more than the sum of our parts.
“These cornerstones of freedom and respect are tough to set in tandem, as we are being constantly reminded this year.
“It’s precisely this kind of community that I hope our institutions of higher education can bolster as the growing shadow of polarization and mistrust threatens to dim our shared purpose and possibility.
“I know you will take this powerful ability and light with you as you graduate. The world needs your leadership to mend our divisions with the same curiosity and consideration that you brought to the first day of GSB orientation.”
The diploma ceremony for the Class of 2024 featured 534 graduates who earned degrees:
- 432 MBA
- 71 Master of Science (MSx)
- 23 PhD
- 8 Master of Arts in Business Research
Forty-five MBA students earned joint degrees:
- 23 MS in Environment and Resources
- 13 MS in Education
- 2 MS in Electrical Engineering
- 4 JD (Law)
- 3 MS in Public Policy
Certificate and Award Recipients
- Certificates in Public Management and Social Innovation were awarded to 167 graduates.
- Forty-three MBA graduates were named Arjay Miller Scholars, recognized as the top 10% academically in the class.
- The Henry Ford II Scholar, selected for academic achievement, was earned by Jessica Jiesi Wang.
- Shaden Alsheik was recognized as this year’s Ernest C. Arbuckle Award winner, chosen by her peers for having contributed most to the fulfillment of the goals of the school.
- The Alexander A. Robichek Award in Finance went to Tye Alan Gerrard.
- The recipient of the George G.C. Parker Prize for academic achievement in the MSx class was Jeff Hsu.
- Seven students were named Robert L. Joss Scholars, recognizing the academically highest 10% of the graduating MSx class.
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