The Complexities of our Digitally Connected World

Reposted from Dan Hesse's LinkedIn series on Executive Leadership and Corporate Responsibility. The following was published August 16, 2015. 

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Today’s New York Times front page story on AT&T highlights one of the many dilemmas raised in a speech I delivered in March titled “Is a Digitally Connected World a Better Place?” The speech was one of two keynotes from the New York Global Leaders Forum annual gala; the second delivered by NSA Chief Admiral Mike Rogers in which he discussed cyber security.

In my address, I posed a question to the audience:

“Which CEO is more patriotic, the one who provides all of the information the government requests to help catch a criminal or prevent a terrorist attack, or the CEO whose company creates tools that make it difficult for law enforcement or the government to acquire a customer’s information, believing protecting civil liberties is a higher calling?”

It’s a very tough question.

The talk explores the plusses and minuses from our digitally connected world in areas such as education, the news, the environment, economies, health care, music, safety, aging, privacy and national security. Creating a “Goldilocks Solution” (getting it “just right”) will require open, thoughtful debate, dialogue, and compromise, which the American political system could use more of in many areas.

Lessons from the Hall – Others are Key to Your Happiness and Success

Reposted from Dan Hesse's LinkedIn series on Executive Leadership and Corporate Responsibility. The following was published August 11, 2015. 

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The family spent an enjoyable and inspirational weekend together in Canton, OH to see the eight new members of the class of 2015 enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  We were especially glad to see Jerome Bettis and Tim Brown inducted (Go Irish!), and also to see Chiefs great Will Shields enter the Hall.

The acceptance speeches were excellent. Sydney Seau’s introduction for her father was moving. What struck me was the consistency of the themes from the speeches. Each player emphasized experiences off the field and the importance of the “complete person”, rather than on the football player.

It was evident that passion, love of the game, and hard work by the player are half the recipe for success. The other half is the love and support of others -- family, friends and mentors.  By pursuing a sport they love, aided by the guidance and help of others, they’ve achieved happiness and fulfillment.  

These speeches and the experience in Canton echo a quote from Albert Schweitzer, which I included in a recent interview with Forbes (linked below).

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.”

The conversation with Forbes’ Robert Reiss closed with my advice for millennials as they position themselves for success. You can read more of the interview here: According To Dan Hesse, 'The Mobile Internet Changes Everything"– Forbes, July 2015