KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION

ROBERT M. GATES LEADERSHIP BIO

By Kevin Wu

KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION

Biography and AchievementsA Life of Service

Grew up in rural Kansas during 1940s and 1950s

Served in U.S. Air Force

Recruited to join CIA

National Security Council

Director of Central Intelligence Agency

Dean and President of Texas A&M

Secretary of Defense

Chancellor of William & Mary and President of Boy

Scouts of America

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Be Real“I detest this job…”“The best part of the job is the kids…they make me cry…they are so awesome…only they could get me to stay [for another term]”

• “A Soldier’s Secretary of Defense”

• Embodied his personal and family values in his

professional life

– Accountability, integrity, respecting dissenting

views

• A listener, solicited opinions from others

– Open door policy, esp. with Aggies in uniform

• Emotionally engaged in the job

– Took time every day to write personal hand-

written notes to the families of casualties or

visit wounded soldiers in hospitals

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Be Whole“I called Colin Powell, an old friend, for advice…”

• Involved stakeholders across his domains in major

decisions: wife Becky, George H.W. Bush, Colin

Powell

• Very active in community and education causes

– Donated $1.5 million with his wife to children’s

research center at Texas A&M

– Elected to lead Boy Scouts of America

• Established boundaries to preserve time with family

• Carried a small countdown clock

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Be Innovative“I had to change the way the Pentagon prioritized funding”

• Agent of change at Pentagon

– Reinvigorated Pentagon after Rumsfeld’s divisive,

arrogant leadership, and repaired relationships

with Congress and other agencies

– Refocused the Pentagon on prioritizing today’s

needs (MRAPs to protect soldiers from mines and

explosives) over future, notional conflicts

– Supported repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

– Supported women on submarines

– Foresaw the end of war coming and implemented

savings and spending restraint

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4 Way Win?

Family Work

CommunityPersonal

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Leadership Takeaways

• Never forget your values and where you came from

– Respect others for their points of view

• Servant leadership could be a powerful form of leadership

– Champion the cause of those who serve you

• Embodiment of a slow career, of life as an opportunity to have impact in a

multitude of areas

• Life is not necessarily a linear, sequential progression