"............As business leaders, as we are faced with questions of life and death rather than how much our stock is worth, the significance of our business contribution to the world may be increased. And that is a good thing.
I’ll end by telling a story.
I’ll end by telling a story.
There was once a civilization that was the greatest
in the world. It was able to create a continental super-state
that stretched from ocean to ocean, and from northern climes to tropics and
deserts. Within its dominion lived hundreds of millions of people, of different
creeds and ethnic origins.
One of its languages became the universal language
of much of the world, the bridge between the peoples of a hundred lands. Its
armies were made up of people of many nationalities, and its military
protection allowed a degree of peace and prosperity that had never been known.
The reach of this civilization’s commerce extended from Latin America to China,
and everywhere in between.
And this civilization was driven more than
anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity.
Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the
building of computers, and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the
human body, and found new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the
heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration.
Its writers created thousands of stories. Stories
of courage, romance and magic. Its poets wrote of love, when others before them
were too steeped in fear to think of such things.
When other nations were afraid of ideas, this
civilization thrived on them, and kept them alive. When censors threatened to
wipe out knowledge from past civilizations, this civilization kept the
knowledge alive, and passed it on to others.
While modern Western civilization shares many of
these traits, the civilization I’m talking about was the Islamic world from the
year 800 to 1600, which included the Ottoman Empire and the courts of Baghdad,
Damascus and Cairo, and enlightened rulers like Suleiman the Magnificent.
Although we are often unaware of our indebtedness
to this other civilization, its gifts are very much a part of our heritage. The
technology industry would not exist without the contributions of Arab
mathematicians. Sufi poet-philosophers like Rumi challenged our notions of self
and truth. Leaders like Suleiman contributed to our notions of tolerance and
civic leadership.
And perhaps we can learn a lesson from his example:
It was leadership based on meritocracy, not inheritance. It was leadership that
harnessed the full capabilities of a very diverse population–that included
Christianity, Islamic, and Jewish traditions.This kind of enlightened leadership — leadership
that nurtured culture, sustainability, diversity and courage — led to 800 years
of invention and prosperity.
In dark and serious times like this, we must affirm
our commitment to building societies and institutions that aspire to this kind
of greatness. More than ever, we must focus on the importance of leadership–
bold acts of leadership and decidedly personal acts of leadership.
With that, I’d like to open up the conversation and
see what we, collectively, believe about the role of leadership."
Source: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speeches/fiorina/minnesota01.html
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