Leadership & Character | Winston-Salem, NC

A group of Wake Foresters gathered over dinner in Winston-Salem, NC on July 18, 2018 to discuss Leadership & Character.

Overview and highlights of our Call to Conversation:

• We discussed how good character often doesn’t get much public attention. We began the evening by sharing instances in our lives when we saw character in action and how these memorable moments helped to shape our lives. The stories shared showcased our friends, colleagues, community leaders, public figures, and even our own family members doing what is right in challenging circumstances.
• A few examples shared included folks who volunteer all of their spare time, people with a willingness to take ownership and responsibility for their own actions, and even how inaction can show good character.
• We talked about motivations behind good character – Do people act in certain ways for recognition or acclaim? Do they feel obligated due to religious beliefs? Is character innate? Are we all born with a sense of what is right?
• Finally, we asked each other, “can character be taught?” We thought about ways Wake Forest can cultivate great leaders who exhibit good character. We discussed how character can be modeled and how one’s environment can shape character. We also discussed how teaching empathy and tolerance can encourage students to honor differences and respect other’s values.