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Northeastern University graduate David Powers led the parent company that made Ugg, Hoka and Teva household names across the globe, and he shepherded and shaped brands from Timberland and Converse while promoting social and environmental sustainability.
He attributes his leadership success to co-ops.
“Those early co-op experiences — being the youngest in the room, trying to make an impact — laid the groundwork for every leadership moment that came later and gave me the confidence to take on big challenges,” Powers told graduates of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business on Thursday.
And Powers is confident that such experience is going to benefit the Class of 2025 as well.
“Your Northeastern education has given you something more valuable than any textbook could offer,” Powers said. “You’ve gained the ultimate career accelerator: the proven ability to apply classroom knowledge to real-world experiences.”
Powers is the former CEO of Deckers Brands and graduated from Northeastern in 1989. He returned Thursday morning to Matthews Arena on Northeastern’s Boston campus to speak at the D’Amore-McKim undergraduate ceremony.
“It never looked this good, but it smelled the same,” Powers joked of returning to Matthews.
In a speech that included personal stories, wisdom and praise for the Class of 2025, Powers spoke about becoming a leader — advising students that now was the time to think about their “leadership brand.”
“Your leadership style will have a direct impact on your level of success and happiness,” Powers told graduates. “What kind of leader do you want to be?”
He gave graduates a roadmap to answering that question: to “define” and “stick to” their values, learn how to “process your emotions” and “understand what kind of culture brings out your best.”
“Leadership starts and thrives with self-awareness,” Powers said.
He also offered graduates three principles essential to a career as a leader: “be hungry,” “be humble” and “be kind.”
“Don’t settle for what is — chase what could be, and stay curious,” Powers said in elaborating on these principles. “Integrity is a superpower — nurture it. And respect people’s differences and welcome them.”
And Powers reminded graduates that being a successful leader means more than just being the one person at the top, asking graduates to “take care of each other.”
“You’ll go farther in life through connection than competition,” Powers said. “Your relationships will shape your success — and your happiness — more than any job title.”
“Class of 2025, take pride in what you’ve accomplished, be confident in your abilities and know everyone here is rooting for you and you have a tremendous foundation to build on,” Powers continued. “So, go get it and leave a positive impact on the world.”