MARY RICHARDSON: It's humbling to be asked to speak about something because you're part of the history. And it's also a privilege to be here and I want to compliment both Wendy and Colleen for having gotten every single MCH funded program represented in the same room. I can tell you it's a first for me. I don't know if it's a first for MCH, but I'm just delighted with the turnout and with the representation that's here. It is fun to reflect back on work that you did some number of years ago. And while I recognize and I think we all recognize the change and the importance of responding to the change that has gone on and will continue to go on, I've also thought quite a bit about the fundamentals. And there are three things I wanted to share with you, which I believe were fundamental. We didn't say them in exactly this same way, but we talked about them at the conference in Kentucky. And I believe are still fundamentals today and will be in the future.

Number one, in order to be a good leader, you have to show up. Somebody else said that before I did, but I've adopted it. Number two, you have to do you very best all of the time. And number three, you have to listen to people. And by showing up, that means mentally and physically. Your body needs to be there, but so does your attention and your focus. So all of us struggle and balance so many things every single day, and yet, in those times when we really are called on to be our very best as leaders, we need to bring everything we have to bear to the table. I tell my management students that who they are as a person is who they will be as a leader.

Number two, do your best all of the time. That's really hard. That's hard work. And it's important to remember that. And we won't always live up to it, but we need to remember that we have that as a goal. And even when we do our best, it may not be everything that was needed, but we can at least know that we gave it our best effort. And number three, listen to others. If you want to have what I would call a Xerox theory of management, surround yourself with people that walk and talk and sound just like you. If you want to be an effective leader, surround yourself with people who are bright, who are questioning, who are open and who will help you but will also challenge you and create an environment that challenges them and gives them the kind of safety they need to speak up and to do their very best all of the time. So I wish you well in your next couple of days. I think it's a very important topic that you're tackling, and I hope that as you put together the things that you want to teach your students, and that you've been teaching your students in the past, don't forget to teach them to show up, do their very best all of the time, and to listen to other people. Thank you.