What Matters Most & Why: Ten Years Later

Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business

I truly believe that all of us can be extraordinary. As what one passage said… “it is better to be hot or cold than to be lukewarm.” I believe that only when you have this drive or ambition always burning inside you, then you will always stay positive. We live in a cynical world… always people who try to put people down. I believe that with this common cause of uplifting people from poverty through education… you should have the core fire of trying to lift people to great new heights.

I have to admit, my goal is to be CEO of a Global 100 company in 15 years. Why? It is not based on a hunger for greed or power… but it’s because of the opportunity. When you are in a position, you have influence in more countries than one, and having the respect and leverage of an institution to back up your cause – you can truly make a macro level impact. I believe that I could create a win-win situation at which the corporation would be able to be recognized as a great global corporate citizen and be able to have more kids go through school. My goal is to be a Warren Buffet or a Bill Gates – great corporate thought leaders – but adheres to the values of education and social responsibility. I believe that their example has inspired me that true leaders are indeed true givers – and I would want to be like them in the future.

Lastly, and on a lighter note, one of my core values is to “party like a rock star.” Although I may not be good in instruments, I believe that my life can always be a constant song at which each day is another son to be written on. I am a big believer in crazy parties and in traveling the world. I realize that these are some of the few times that you are real – you usually laugh a lot, dance like you don’t care, and being able to just be you. This translates to being me. Sometimes I feel that I am the most transparent guy that people would talk to. I usually tell people what I’m thinking and try not to have any hidden agenda at all. I get irritated by people who have these agendas in mind, and always putting on a façade to reach the next career step. I treat life as it is… and usually, try to put on a smile all the time. The one advice that one of my mentors in Florida told me before I left is “the trick to making it to the top is to always keep a positive attitude.” I realize that although people can try to fake people positively, it is not the voice tone or the choice of words that make the difference, but more so, your “aura” will just be there.

Travel is also one big thing on my list. I really believe that the world is so big, so interesting, so many places to go to, that a lifetime is too short to see it all. Why is travel, particularly to a foreign land, so big for me? I think this is one of the greatest leadership training that one will ever get. I went to Prague last year, not knowing what it looks like and how to get from the airport to the hostel, and not knowing anyone at all. I realize that everything in life is like this… uncertain of the future. But like me, and I am still alive now and back in the US, the only way to learn something new, is to take risks. I believe leaders are people who don’t settle for the status quo and people who are willing to risk their lives or careers for something they truly believe in. Also, in traveling, you get to learn. As what the Japanese Minister of Education told my dad when he was doing graduate school in Japan said: “if you love your kids, make them travel.” I totally agree because you would be able to learn about so many cultures, see so much history and meet very interesting people. For example, I learned from a traveler that people in Denmark usually “kick out” their sons and daughters for 2 months when they turn 16. They expect them to travel to other countries, at a minimum go around Europe, try to live on odd jobs, and stay in hostels. This culture recognized something fundamental early on: that travel is a great maturing process for their youth.

I think that I can sum up what matters to me in one word… DREAM. I believe that by helping people to dream by being a mentor or creating a scholarship for them or by holding on to your own dreams and keeping a positive attitude and take good risks will create better and future leaders for our truly global world and will shape to create a brighter and better future for the generations to come.

Stanford GSB Alum Earl Martin Valencia

Earl Martin Valencia is a strategy and transformation executive, speaker and venture adviser. He is currently the Managing Director of Digital Transformation for a Fortune 500 company and has advised hundreds of start-up companies, incubators and VC funds in multiple continents. He is a Stanford MBA graduate and honored as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. He was also awarded by the President of the Philippines as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the country. Find out more about Earl at earlvalencia.com and his podcast “The Digital Mindset” that you can download from iTunes or Stitcher.

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