Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), an ecumenical Christian housing ministry that has helped more than 5 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes in more than 70 countries, spoke on Tuesday, October 20th on the campus of Wake Forest.
Sponsored by Wake Forest’s The Leadership Project, Mr. Reckford shared leadership insights and perspectives with University President Dr. Nathan Hatch and welcomed students, faculty, staff and guests.
Early in the conversation with Dr. Hatch, Mr. Reckford outlined key mentors who have guided him throughout his life: his mother, grandmother and godmother. “What are you going to do to be useful”, a question his grandmother posed to him early in life. Throughout the evening many references to the concept of living a “useful life” were made. Guided by a deep intellectual curiosity from an early age, Reckford attributed that a mission-oriented focus, and being intentional about doing what you actually love, are keys to being useful in the world.
When asked to give advice to students about careers, Reckford offered up these thoughts: studying something you feel you ought to, but don’t really have an affinity for, is probably not a good long-term perspective; strong communication skills are core to any kind of leadership position; and students are encouraged to seek and find positions within organizations where their gifts meet their passions, as well as where organizations fit their gifts and skills in order add value to world.
When remembering early leadership positions, Reckford recalled seeking office of student body president in college. Upon losing, the lesson to be learned was about power and focus. Reckford reflected that if there is real focus on obtaining a goal, not just for the sake of the power position, it will be obtained with influence and focus.
Finally, Mr. Reckford encouraged leaders to develop a justice mindset. This involves developing a short list of principles to develop one’s life around. These principles are meant to be unwavering. He further later defined this by being “religious about our principles but not our tactics”. With this encouragement comes the advice to work on character before content of work. Reckford’s definition of calling: where the deep gladness of one’s heart meets the world’s great need. His definition of success: living the life one wants to lead while being successful on one’s own terms; being engaged and liking what one does.
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Jonathan Reckford, the author of “Habitat for Humanity: No Hands but Yours,” was appointed CEO of HFHI in 2005. He graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where he was a Morehead Scholar. He earned his MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business before spending much of his career in the for-profit sector.