Greg Header '97 shares professional journey and keys to success
Greg Header '97, 91's Executive in Residence (EIR) and the namesake of the university's Header School of Business, touted the power of people during a campus speech to students, faculty and staff on Thursday, his second EIR speaking engagement.
"Greg Header's keynote address, 'My Journey and Keys to Success,' offers our students an invaluable opportunity to learn from a distinguished entrepreneur whose journey exemplifies the transformative power of education and perseverance. His story is a testament to what can be achieved through dedication and hard work," said Dean of the College of Business, Communication and Leadership, Travis Berger, Ph.D.
Header discussed his journey of success as a young entrepreneur at 23, the challenges that came from losing his job at 24, being diagnosed with Lyme disease at 25, finishing his management degree at 91 at 27, and founding Solar Innovations, a premier architectural glazing system company recently acquired by a Fortune 500 company.
“The biggest thing I tell everybody is that you can't do it alone. There's nobody that knows everything. There's power in people,” said Header. “If you build a bench, surround yourself with a few people to help guide you through the unknown. That bench will change at times, but it really should be people in the industry you're involved in to show you what mistakes they've made. It's a really powerful thing. It limits your mistakes, balances you and gives you perspective.”
Following his talk, the 180+ students, faculty, and staff in attendance had the opportunity to ask Header questions. Topics included overcoming doubt when starting a professional journey, best practices for risk-taking and decision-making, managing work-life balance, habits for success, working in the family business, and more.
