Institutes Plenary: Lessons in Leadership and Perseverance from Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts, co-anchor of "Good Morning America," faced a rapt audience at Wednesday's Institutes Plenary and explained her secret to success, which she learned from her parents. "It was about the three Ds: discipline, determination and da’lord," she said to warm applause. Roberts, who wondered aloud how a pigtailed girl from Mississippi achieved so much, shared her insights and inspirational message with humor and humbleness during the closing session of the NBMBAA Leadership and Entrepreneurial Institutes®. Her down-to-earth presentation touched on the importance of knowing the difference between faith and fear, achieving big dreams and being authentic. She recalled she wanted to be an athlete, but lacked professional level ability. So she decided to become a sports broadcaster. While majoring in journalism at Southeastern Louisiana University, she went to a local radio station and asked for a job. The answer was yes, but she had to DJ on the weekends. "You’ve got to put yourself in a position to reach that goal," she said. A mentor urged her to combine her interest in sports and journalism. "You have to dream big and focus small, taking that part-time position allowed me to build my skills and experience," she said. She turned down an offer from ESPN early in her career because she was not ready "and I wanted staying power." She earned the practical experience needed while in Atlanta. When ESPN called again she was ready and stayed 15 years. Roberts said she ventured outside her comfort zone when she took the job at ABC. "Often fear keeps us where we are. There is a fine line between fear and faith... they are both unseen. If you wait until you are not scared anymore you will wait a long time." She recalled she had been at ABC a short time when Hurricane Katrina hit. She covered the story mainly to find her family in Louisiana. About an hour before she had to report live, she left her colleagues and went home. The neighborhood was in shambles but her family was well. Relieved, she went back to work. While reporting live, she did not mention her family until Charlie Rose inquired. That’s when the waterworks started. Appalled, Roberts thought her career would suffer. Instead people rallied around her. "I think about that being a turning point for me personally and professionally because I was just being authentic," she said. Roberts encouraged conference attendees to stay authentic. Drill down to your purpose and passion. Network, listen to what speakers are saying and apply it "to whatever your situation may be, that’s why you are here. "Now, I am leader of the number one morning show in the country, how did that happen? Sometimes you don’t realize the work you are doing will eventually pay off," she said, adding she recently launched her Rock’n Robin production company, "where I am hiring young people and giving them opportunities "I will take will over skill any day of the week. I am not the smartest... but I have that desire, determination and da’lord with me." Roberts also participated in a question and answer session and signed copies of her book, The Heart: 7 Rules to Live By. The book and others by speakers from this year's Conference are available in the NBMBAA Bookstore, GWCC Level 4. |
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