Lectureships in Values and Ethics

Blake Mycoskie to Speak

Delta Gamma Dorothy Garrett Martin Lectureship in Values and Ethics presents Blake Mycoskie, Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS shoes on February 22, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. in Humphrey Coliseum on the Mississippi State University campus.

"One of the most interesting entrepreneurs (I've) ever met." - President Bill Clinton

Blake Mycoskie is the Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS Shoes, Inc. TOMS' simple promise to give a pair of new shoes to children in need around the world with every pair sold is revolutionizing the way consumers shop.  The One for One business model has encouraged conscientious consumers to purchase and give more than 140,000 pairs of new shoes to children in need in just 3 years.  By the end of 2009, TOMS
will give an additional 500,000 pairs of new shoes to children in need all around the world, including at home
in the US. The One for One business model is redefining social entrepreneurship for a new generation. Can the purchasing power of individuals be used to foster the greater good? Can an entrepreneur succeed financially and make the world a better place? The amazing success of TOMS Shoes proves that the answer to both of these questions is a resounding "Yes!"
Embodying the entrepreneurial spirit of a new generation, Mycoskie has created five businesses since college. In the Bill Gates Time magazine article, "How to Fix Capitalism," TOMS is cited and Mycoskie caught the attention of AT&T, who has featured him in a major national ad campaign for the last several months.

Mycoskie is an avid reader and traveler. He is 32-years-old and lives on a sailboat in Los Angeles.

Blake Mycoskie Speaking Topics
The New Rules for Tomorrow's Business: A Student's Guide to Making a Difference in the World
With the popularity of Facebook, Twitter, and the rise of social media, a new generation of socially conscious students -- tuned-in, tech savvy, and ready to engage the world -- has emerged on college campuses.  They're flocking to a new breed of businesses and social movements.  With its unique One for One promise,
the message of TOMS Shoes has swept campuses across the country. In this spirited talk, Blake Mycoskie relates his transformation from "typical business guy," motivated by just money and success, to the founder of TOMS Shoes, a company that advocates "doing good by doing well." For young people about to enter the "real world," Mycoskie will show that it is possible to go your own way, to achieve success without sacrificing your dreams, and to make a difference in the world -- all at the same time. In order to seize the day -- Carpe
Diem -- one has to be familiar with the new set of societal and business rules facing young graduates. In exploring the elements that have contributed to the success of TOMS Shoes, Mycoskie not only shows students a model of sustainable business practice, he also inspires them to go out and create their own,
based on their lives and passions.

Conscious Capitalism and the Future of Business
In this visionary talk, Blake Mycoskie shows you how to succeed in a new era of relentless competition and heightened social awareness.  Why is philanthropy your best competitive advantage? How do you make money and do good simultaneously? How are the two acts intertwined?  At TOMS -- a self-sustaining, for-profit company -- the act of giving is the cornerstone of its business model, integral to its financial
success. In a behind-the-scenes look at how it all works, Mycoskie shares counterintuitive ideas ("In tough times, give more!") that you can apply to your own business.  His bold, winning strategies are proven, and have been talked about by Bill Clinton, the Obama administration, and the hundreds of thousands of customers that have joined the TOMS Movement by buying a pair of shoes. Inspired, inspiring and most of all
practical, Mycoskie presents a new direction for business, offering TOMS as his prime case study.  After hearing him speak, you too will know why giving just makes sense.

The New Social Entrepreneurism
How do you turn ideas into great businesses? And how do you create businesses that people love, and love to talk about? In this keynote, serial entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie shares his secrets for starting, growing, and sustaining new businesses. Before TOMS Shoes, Mycoskie ran a successful national campus laundry service, sold a media company to Clear Channel, and ran an online driving school featuring hybrid cars.  Where did each idea come from, and what is the common thread connecting their success? With infectious enthusiasm, hard-won lessons, and a generous sense of encouragement, Mycoskie lets you in on
the proven tactics he's used to become one of the new faces of American entrepreneurism.

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Christopher Gardner

The Delta Gamma Dorothy Garrett Martin Lectureship in Values and Ethics, the Holmes Center for Cultural Diversity, and the Campus Activities Board hosted speaker Christopher Gardner on Monday, March 26, 2007, at 7 pm in the Humphrey Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi State University.

The amazing story of Gardner’s life was published in the 2006 autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, and is the inspiration for the movie of the same title that was released by Columbia Pictures in December. Will Smith stars as Gardner, and was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award for his performance. Gardner, owner and CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings, is an avid motivational speaker, who addresses the keys to self-empowerment, beating odds, and breaking cycles.

Gardner’s remarkable story of struggle, faith, entrepreneurialism, and fatherly devotion has catapulted him beyond the notoriety he has found on Wall Street. He has been featured on the Evening News with Dan Rather, 20/20, Oprah, The View, CNN, CNBC, as well as being the subject of profiles in numerous newspapers and magazines, including USA Today, Associated Press, New York Times, Fortune, Reader’s Digest, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He is also a highly sought after speaker.
The event was free and open to the public.

DELTA GAMMA LECTURESHIP COMMITTEE
Contacts: Jessica Pope Hubbard wmjeshub@metrocast.net 662-323-5158


ESTABLISHED LECTURESHIPS:
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FEATURED SPEAKERS HAVE INCLUDED:
Steve Forbes, President Gerald Ford, Andrew Shue, Jeff Probst, Barbara Bush, William Bennett, Charlton Heston, Maya Angelou, Mary Matalin, Ann Compton, Cokie Roberts, Julie Andrews,
Jeff Corwin