August 4, 2003 (ATLANTA) - Kenneth D. Lewis, chairman and chief executive officer of Bank of America, not only challenged students to strive to meet a higher standard in their personal and professional life, he provided real-life examples of people who have met that challenge during his commencement address to the Robinson College of Business's graduating class of 2003. Lewis, a 1969 Robinson finance graduate, told the gathering that, "Aspiring to a higher standard in business means working hard every day to exceed the accomplishments of the past for all - and that's why it's so hard." He said that's the goal set for employees of his company, which adopted "higher standards," as its corporate tagline.
Demonstrating the impact that making the right choices could have, he focused on the accomplishments of the College's naming benefactor, J. Mack Robinson who according to Lewis, "thrived in business without sacrificing the interests of one set of stakeholders to the pressures and demands of another." He spoke of the former dean of Emory and Georgia State Law Schools, Ben Johnson and said that in the spirit of President Kennedy, Johnson serves as a perfect illustration of never asking "What more can I have?" but always asking "What more can I do?"
Finally, Lewis shared memories about his mother Byrdine Lewis, a nurse for 46 years. He told the audience that her life has been a career, and a life, of service. "She was always strong…always positive…always optimistic."
He then posed several questions to the graduates. "Will you find wisdom to balance the needs of all those around you, like Mack Robinson? Will you find the energy to serve your community and go beyond what is expected, like Dean Johnson? Will you find the courage to face life's difficulties and challenges with fortitude and optimism, like Byrdine Lewis?" Lewis was recently named to Fortune Magazine's list of the "Most Powerful 25 People in Business." He is a member of Robinson's Board of Advisors. At the ceremony he was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Georgia State University, presented by President Carl Patton.
For a transcript of Lewis' address visit: www.bankofamerica.com/newsroom/speeches
The J. Mack Robinson College of Business is one of the nation's top business schools. The College's Flex (part-time) MBA program has been listed in the top ten by U.S. News for the past eight years and its undergraduate business program is ranked among the top 50 in the nation. BusinessWeek magazine ranked the College's Executive MBA program 20th in the world and Forbes rated Robinson in the top 20 for return-on-investment for regional schools. Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business has an enrollment for more than 8000 students and is located in downtown Atlanta.
For more information, contact:
Tammy Demel
Associate Director, Communications and External Affairs
J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Robinson College of Business
404/413-7078
404/702-9743 (cell)
tdemel@gsu.edu
