Dennis Brockman, senior vice president of U.S. Retail Operations at Starbucks Coffee Co., addressed a group of college students with a speech about leadership in professional settings at 7 p.m. on Oct. 3 in the Memorial Union’s Webb Hall. Rather than begin his contribution to the Hayes lecture series by laying out its technical points, Brockman chose to jog around the room through rows of clapping, cheering people.
After being introduced by President of the Blue Key Honor Society Nathan Whitsitt, Brockman ran through the crowd, blasting music through speakers and pumping up the attendees. According to Camila Viorel, chairperson of the Hayes lecture and volunteer Spanish translator at The Bulletin, the energy was a very unique addition to the lecture series.
“We did a sound check before the event, but I wasn’t expecting what happened,” said Viorel. “It’s energy, definitely, and I think that’s great, because usually lectures just stay at the stage, but this is the kind of lecture that just goes and gets the energy out of everyone.”
In his lecture, Brockman discussed his background at a range of different companies. Despite a storied career in various managerial positions at companies including Jostens, Wendy’s and Aramark, Brockman has only ever interviewed for one job. He was repeatedly provided opportunities by coworkers who had decided to leave their present company, and he ascribes much of his success in business to a series of simple, but vital maxims.
Brockman challenges his audience not to burn bridges, to be authentically themselves, to bring energy to the workplace and always take risks. Above all, he recommends that a worker in any job invest in their community and learn to love the people within it. He believes that thoughtful adherence to these beliefs distinguished him from his coworkers and turned him into the kind of person that companies want on their team.
Brockman repeatedly mentioned that the part of the lecture he looked forward to the most was the question and answer portion.
“I think it says a lot about how he wants to connect with the audience and the community,” said Viorel. “He talked a lot about how you have to go out there and not just know the person you’re working with, but also the other parts of the organization you’re working in. He mentioned that he doesn’t only know his team in his job, but he also knows everyone else’s teams, and I think it’s about those connections with people.”
While discussing the impact that the Hayes lectures have on Emporia students, Viorel explained her earnest belief in these speeches’ ability to influence people to invest in their community and grow as individuals.
“I think it helps, it helps students see that there’s more after college, and even more to learn and more to grow after college,” said Viorel. “Everything that you learn in college and the connections you made here, all of that is going to help you afterwards. The successful people that are out there in the world, one day, they were also in college, and maybe one organization they got involved in, or one thing they did in college, like set them apart, and now they are where they are.”
Brockman places an extremely high value on experiential learning. As he talked about the importance of investing time in the people and culture of a company, Brockman said, “Don’t be so tied to your degree. Be tied to your experience. Be tied to making a difference wherever you go.”
