Walking the walk on leadership

Nov 23, 2018

MARION — On Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, Tabor Academy will present the sixth annual Graboys Leadership Symposium. The symposium, which is named for Tabor alumnus George Graboys ’50, is expected to both commemorate Graboys after his passing in 2017, and explore how various leaders have led by example. 

Matt Sandefer, the 2018 faculty chair, follows four other faculty chairs, and chose the theme for this year’s leadership symposium. 

The symposium will open with an address by Ken Graboys, George Graboy’s son and the Co-Founder and CEO of The Chartis Group, a healthcare consultancy.

“With George’s passing in December 2017, Ken’s speech will no doubt remind us of George’s impact on Tabor and the communities he served,” said Kerry Saltonstall, Director of Communications at Tabor.

Two other alumni speakers will also speak on Tuesday evening:  Dave DeFilippo ’84, Chief People and Learning Officer for Suffolk Construction and Colleen Coyne ’89, 1998 Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Ice Hockey. Each will share their perspective on leading by example and, how lifelong learning and teamwork are parts of that.

After that, students will have the opportunity to debrief by discussing role models in their lives that have led by example. 

Day two of the symposium will begin Wednesday morning with a keynote address by Jon Callaghan ’87, Founding Partner of True Ventures. 

“As an entrepreneur and investor in well over 200 companies, I've come to learn that great leadership starts with values and purpose. Leadership is about connecting people to meaning and building movements that can change our world,” Callaghan said, adding “I look forward to discussing some real-world examples of the power of values in action.”

Because George Graboys began leadership with a values-driven approach, students will be asked to also consider how their values might impact leadership. 

George Graboys was the former President of Citizens Bank, and an advocate for connecting values, learning, and leadership. Ken Graboys started the symposium with a gift to honor his father and his community legacy on his 80th birthday.

The Tuesday night addresses from Graboys, DeFilippo and Coyne will be streamed on the Tabor Academy Facebook page at 7 p.m. The symposium will also livestream the keynote address at 8:30 a.m. on the academy’s Facebook page.