The Value in Paying it Forward

What did 7 hills do to help you prepare to be where you are today?

I felt really prepared for my talk at 7 Hills, but not for a question of this depth. 7 Hills is the only school I ever attended, which left me struggling to summarize 15 years of experiences, relationships, and skills in a couple of buzz words. But, with a couple of days to think about- I did come up with something far better than my answer on Monday.

7 Hills heightened my curiosity, developed my writing, and gave me a community that remains almost two decades later.

The students are the first cohort of a new semester-long course on Philanthropy and were even more impressive than expected. We had an engaging conversation that touched on our professional journeys and current roles, historical and current trends in philanthropy here in Cincinnati, and the value and meaning of wealth.

We did an abbreviated version of QCI’s Family Advising tool, “Old and New Money Message” to open a discussion about beliefs and habits with money, where they come from, and how they impact decisions in life & philanthropy. Hammad shared how his role, and Fifth Third Bank as a financial institution, serve as partners to civil society and invest in community pillars that build a thriving city.

This was a great learning experience for all of us. The students closed with “What advice would you give to college kids and early philanthropists?”

I said: 1) Come up with a few core questions to help guide you through new experiences that are aligned with your values, 2) Find something you are passionate, and 3) Allow and encourage yourself to be curious.

What lessons or wisdom would you share?