Good Grad Advice

Celebrities from Colbert to De Niro offer advice for life after graduation and beyond

Graduation season has arrived, and 2015 seems to be a particularly active year for nabbing big-name commencement speakers such as politicians, movie stars, authors, military leaders and executives. This year’s first timers include Matthew McConaughey (University of Houston) and comedienne Maya Rudolph (Tulane University).

And of course there were the tried-and-true standbys — President Obama at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and former President George W. Bush at Southern Methodist University.

CEOs spreading inspiration and wisdom include Tim Cook of Apple (George Washington University), Ursula Burns of Xerox (Williams College) and Marc Benioff of Salesforce (University of California at Berkeley).

Commencement addresses are a rich tradition, full of nuggets of wisdom for those entering the workforce but also for those of us who are well into our careers. Even the speeches themselves offer a master class in connecting with an audience.

I’ve watched many commencement addresses over the years and more than a few this week. Here are tips gleaned from the most well-received commencement speakers

First things first: Learn to speak in public
One can’t watch YouTube videos of successful commencement speakers without marveling at their ability to articulate and hold an audience’s attention. Sure, the average graduation speaker may have had help (writing or otherwise), but with a little work on your own, you can improve your ability to speak, whether it is in a departmental meeting or before your company.

Find common ground
Jeff Imhelt, CEO of General Electric, addressing the graduating class of Notre Dame, started his speech by saying, “This is especially sweet because we have 400 Notre Dame alums working at GE — including 25 in the audience today — that also includes our CFO.”

Acknowledging a connection at the outset seems like an easy thing to do but so often we are so focused on the business or the transaction that we forget that all business goes smoother if there is common ground and a connection with teammates, business partners and customers.

Relate to the audience on their level
Almost every successful speaker makes some joke about the college’s unique customs, skipping class, drinking too much, making bad grades or the myriad tools of social media.

Amy Poehler, when addressing Harvard, talked about pulling an all-nighter and then going to a movie before writing her speech.

Maya Rudolph said, “When I was writing my speech this morning, I did what all of you do as you powered through finals: I took a nap, cried a little and then checked to make sure my iPhone apps were up to date.”

And, on a more serious note, Natalie Portman, speaking at Harvard, where she graduated in 2003, recalled feeling that she was not as smart as her classmates and having dark days where she didn’t want to get out of bed.

Develop a sense of humor
Most of us are not going to be Seth Myers, Ellen DeGeneres or Amy Poehler, but it is fascinating how a well-timed quip or self-deprecating remark can connect the speaker with an audience, defuse tension and make people listen to the more serious stuff you have to say.

Stephen Colbert, who spoke at Wake Forest University, opened by saying, “Congratulations to you, the class of 2015. You did it and you look amazing. Although it’s a little embarrassing, you all showed up in the same outfit. Really, even all of the accessories are the same. Everyone has a black and gold tassel.”

Make your audience feel special
Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM, speaking to her alma mater Northwestern stated, “Much of what I have accomplished I owe to this great institution. And as I sat here, 30 years ago, I don’t think I was fully aware of the great esteem in which this school is held, both in this country and around the world.”

Even speakers who are not alums will make their audience feel special. Katie Couric, taking the podium at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, said, “I know you must be feeling so many things right now — relieved, excited, sad and perhaps nervous? But I hope most of you are feeling proud, lucky and grateful.”

Academy Award-winning actor and director Robert Redford addressed the 2015 graduates of Maine’s Colby College. He told the audience, which included his grandson, “You’re stepping into a world that’s, well, pretty rough. It’s pretty chaotic, pretty divisive.” He added, “This school has provided you with the tools and it's provided you with the history … to go out in the world and make a difference.”

Robert De Niro, after making a profane and salty speech (“you are f----ed , you don’t have a job”) to the graduates of the Tisch School of Arts at New York University, commented that perhaps the new graduates might one day tap him for a part. “I’m excited and honored to be in a room full of young creators who make me hopeful about the future of the performing and media arts. I know you’re going to make it — all of you. Break a leg.”

Speak of your own challenges
Cook spoke passionately about growing up in the segregated South; Couric talked about losing her husband to cancer. Rudolph spoke of graduating from the University of California at Santa Cruz and having no idea what she wanted to do.

Offer empowering advice
Frankly, my head is swimming from all of the advice these speakers give — albeit all good. There is for sure the practical advice of flossing your teeth, eating right and exercising. Then there are the optimistic platitudes of be true to yourself, ask for help, question the status quo, and find the intersection of what you are good at and what you love.

And let’s not forget learning to be a good global citizen, seeking ways to serve others. A lot to absorb for sure. Although much of the advice is geared to a college graduate, perhaps nervous about what he or she will do, there are always nuggets that are universal and apply to those of us in the middle or later stages of our career.

My favorite advice came from talk show host Meredith Viera, who addressed Boston University graduates about uncertainty. Most of us, no matter where we are in our careers, crave certainty and want to know the end game. Sometimes we get so goal-focused that we lose track of the fun being not in the where you end up but how.

Vieira stated, “How boring would the journey be if you already knew for sure the final destination? Listen, you’re terriers. When terriers go for a car ride, they don’t know where they’re going; they don’t care where they’re going. They stick their head out the window, they let the wind rush over them and they enjoy the ride.”

Let’s hear it for being a terrier and dogged determination.

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CultureMap contributor Jane Howze is co-founder and managing director of The Alexander Group.

Stephen Colbert told Wake Forest grads: “Although it’s a little embarrassing, you all showed up in the same outfit."

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Photo by Carolyn Cole

Stephen Colbert told Wake Forest grads: “Although it’s a little embarrassing, you all showed up in the same outfit."

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Eco Warrior News

Dallas restaurants doing amazing little things for the environment

Southwest Airlines bamboo cup

Southwest Airlines

Cute bamboo cup from Southwest Airlines

One unfortunate legacy left by the pandemic has been a huge increase in the use of plastics — setting back progress that was being made pre-pandemic.

Plastics are bad. They harm everything they touch: the environment, health, food security, and economies. But they're convenient, subsidized, and in some cases necessary.

Before the pandemic, a growing awareness had started to snowball regarding the negative impact of plastics, particularly plastic straws and single-use plastic containers — and it was significant enough to make the plastics industry very nervous.

"In the two years leading up to the pandemic, the public backlash against plastic was a major concern for industry leaders," says a story about plastics and the pandemic in The Guardian. "As a corporate executive remarked during an industry event early in 2019: 'We need to get the image of plastic in oceans out of the public’s mind. Otherwise, we could lose our social license to operate.'"

But then the pandemic came along, igniting mass hysteria about contagion, and suddenly, bans on single-use plastics that had been in the works were reversed in countries around the world: North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

“Overnight, plastics went from public enemy No. 1 to consumers asking for everything to have as much packaging as possible and to be single use," said one gleeful analyst for Shell Oil, who are a major plastics player.

The urgency of the plastics situation remains invisible to most people, lined up at the drive-thru for their coffee or Chick-Fil-A, piling up nearly 250 pounds of plastic waste every year. (That's what the average American amasses — more than any other country.)

But there are brave, pro-environment efforts being made by Dallas companies and organizations, big and small.

La Casita Bakeshop cup Revolutionary compostable cup at La Casita Bakeshop.Facebook

Dallas efforts
The Dallas restaurants and organizations listed below have taken steps to fight waste, even though it costs them money.

Plastic Free Lunch Day is November 22
Dallas ISD’s Food and Child Nutrition Services will participate in Plastic Free Lunch Day on November 22, to help reduce the amount of single-use plastic in school cafeterias.

Plastic Free Lunch Day was started by middle school students in Brooklyn. The initiative was such a success that it was adopted by all New York City public schools in 2022. The concept has since spread to public schools across the country — including Dallas ISD, which was the first in Texas to participate, when it joined up in 2022.

It creates an opportunity to educate students and the community on ways to positively impact the environment, including skipping plastic. Dallas school cafeterias will replace the plastic items they regularly use during lunch with biodegradable alternatives. (Plastic cutlery, cups, and straws will be available upon request for the crybabies.)

Southwest Airlines bamboo cup
Southwest Airlines Co., the Dallas-based airline, has introduced a new bamboo cup for inflight cold beverages, and a wood stir stick in place of a plastic stick. The airline expects the new items to reduce its inflight single-use plastics by more than 1.5 million pounds annually.

In July 2024, Southwest transitioned to a paper overwrap for its napkins made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials — fully eliminating plastic from this service item. The airline is making an effort to eliminate single-use plastics from inflight service by 2030.

La Casita Bakeshop compostable cups
La Casita Bakeshop, the award-winning bakery and cafe operation, recently debuted fabulous new cups that are 100 percent compostable, soil- and marine-biodegradable, breaking down naturally after 90 days. and are made from natural materials.

"We are always trying to find ways to be more environmentally friendly and this is a big way we can," they said in their post announcing the new cups. "We just want to be proud of our paper trail and being a restaurant it's hard to do that."

Smoothie King biodegrable cups
Smoothie King, the Dallas-based smoothie chain, previously used styrofoam cups, but began testing a biodegradable cup in 2019. They now offer it as the default choice. They're using Vio Foam, specially made cups that biodegrade 92 percent in four years. They'll still accommodate whiny selfish customers who insist on getting a plastic cup instead, but their Vio foam cup not only helps the environment, it also keeps their smoothies cold a little longer.

Kate Weiser Recycle Box Program
Kate Weiser, the Dallas chocolatier, sells its gorgeous eye-catching bon-bons in a variety of boxes, from 4 pieces all the way up to 35 pieces. (OK, they'll sell them individually, too, but who goes to a chocolate shop and buys a single chocolate?) They have a program where you can bring your empty box to the store and get a refill and get 5 percent off. (Weiser amusingly calls it a "secret hack.")

Dude Sweet Chocolate freezer packaging
Dude Sweet Chocolate, the Oak Cliff chocolatier, has a next-level campaign in which they will accept cold-ship packaging you've received in the mail and re-use it. Say, for example, that you ordered an 8-pack of ice cream pints from Double Rainbow in San Francisco, and it arrived in a box with freezer packs and a foil liner. You can drop that packaging off at Dude Sweet's factory location at 1340 Inwood Rd., and they'll re-use it in one way or another when they're doing shipments of their chocolate.

Note: Whether you're putting it in the blue bin or the gray bin, your plastic is not being recycled. The best course when it comes to plastic, especially single-use plastic, is to not use it at all.

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