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Geoffrey T. Boisi is chairman and co-founder of MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership.
For three years in high school, beginning when I was 15, several friends and I used to spend several Saturdays a month at St. John's Home in Brooklyn. Most of the kids there were orphans and they'd clutch on to us and listen to our every word. They'd ask questions about our lives and how we would handle different types of issues. They looked up to my friends and me as role models. It had a very visceral, a very palpable effect on me.
For the past 25 years, I would have to say Father Monan, former president of Boston College and now chancellor there. Whenever I have had any major decisions to make or have been thinking about certain issues a lot, I've turned to Father Monan. I greatly respect his opinion and analytical abilities and cherish his views on life.
In addition, during my early years in business, I tried to identify people with qualities I admired and then reach out to them. There were several Goldman Sachs colleagues who were influential. I also have a kitchen cabinet of very close personal friends whom I've known for more than 35 years. I never make a major decision without talking to them.
I am constantly reading – everything from history to poetry. But the first book that stands out in my mind is the Bible, which I read periodically. Recently, I finished a book on friendship by Cicero that made a real impact on me. I'm planning to send copies of it to friends for Christmas. Another book I'd recommend is Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness by Stephen R. Covey.
Three interwoven themes guide my life. The first is ad maiorem Dei gloriam - for the greater glory of God. According to this philosophy, God has graced each person with their unique and special talents. It is up to each of us, as a responsibility, to use our talents and skills for the greater good of society. Using your talents well is a form of prayer of thanksgiving to God. The second guiding philosophy is Ever to Excel, which calls on each of us to do the best we can, always, in anything we try. The third philosophy is the Whole Man, which exhorts each of us to develop every aspect of our being – our mind, our heart, our soul and our physical capabilities – and to find balance in life.
My favorite film is "Braveheart," the story of William Wallace who led the Scottish people to independence. Two other films – "On the Waterfront" and "Pawnbroker" – also had a big effect on me as I was growing up. I admired them for the strong messages they conveyed: you need to stand up and do the right thing even if it is uncomfortable and you might have to stand alone.
In my senior year, I quit the football team. Even though I was better than some of the other players, the coach said I wouldn't see any action because I hadn't played for the past few years due to injuries. I had never quit anything before and it left me with a very bad feeling. Later, at Goldman Sachs, when I'd be working until 2 or 3 a.m., I'd be tempted to quit. But that vivid high school memory drove me to carry on and to become the youngest person ever to make partner at Goldman Sachs.
Every morning, I read three newspapers – the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and NewsDay (a local paper). If I have time, I also read the Financial Times for its international perspective. In the evenings, I watch cable news and am a "channel flipper," so I can get a thoughtful, balanced view of the issues.
My ultimate dream, of course, is to connect every child who wants a mentor with one. For years, as a nation, we have neglected a sizeable segment of our youth population, from every background and every economic level. It will take decades to undo that neglect. So, we must stay committed for the long term. In the meantime, MENTOR is doing all it can to help raise the quality of mentoring and expand the public's understanding that mentoring is as good for the adults of the country as it is for the kids. The past 15 years have been very inspiring and we don't celebrate our achievements enough. MENTOR applauds all those who are working to make mentoring a reality for every child and we pledge our support to make that happen.
Monday, January 30, 2006: MENTOR co-founders Geoff Boisi and Ray Chambers each received the Lewis Hine Distinguished Service Award from the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) for a lifetime of outstanding service to children. Boisi and Chambers are credited with galvanizing the nation to create the youth mentoring movement. The timing of the award is especially appropriate: January is National Mentoring Month.
Thursday, September 8, 2005: Citing MENTOR Co-founders Geoff Boisi and Ray Chambers for their extraordinary leadership, foresight and dedication to the mentoring of America's young people, the National Human Services Assembly bestowed its Excellence in Board Leadership Award on the two men during the Assembly's National Leaders Summit.
