curiosity compassion courage community these are the building blocks of
these are the building blocks of
these are the building blocks of creating social impact from soup
creating social impact from soup
creating social impact from soup kitchens to lifting people out of
kitchens to lifting people out of
kitchens to lifting people out of poverty social impact is really just a
poverty social impact is really just a
poverty social impact is really just a series of people working together to
series of people working together to
series of people working together to create change it can happen in living
create change it can happen in living
create change it can happen in living rooms in classrooms in community halls
rooms in classrooms in community halls
rooms in classrooms in community halls at City Hall social impact is a force
at City Hall social impact is a force
at City Hall social impact is a force for good
for good
for good everywhere and it’s not just the
everywhere and it’s not just the
everywhere and it’s not just the activists the do-gooders the tree
activists the do-gooders the tree
activists the do-gooders the tree huggers the raging grannies everyone can
huggers the raging grannies everyone can
huggers the raging grannies everyone can be a change maker now change starts with
be a change maker now change starts with
be a change maker now change starts with curiosity and you have to be curious
curiosity and you have to be curious
curiosity and you have to be curious about who you are where you come from
about who you are where you come from
about who you are where you come from and how the experiences in your life
and how the experiences in your life
and how the experiences in your life shaped the way you see the world now I
shaped the way you see the world now I
shaped the way you see the world now I was born in Hong Kong and we moved to
was born in Hong Kong and we moved to
was born in Hong Kong and we moved to Canada when I was 2 years old my parents
Canada when I was 2 years old my parents
Canada when I was 2 years old my parents instilled in me values such as hard work
instilled in me values such as hard work
instilled in me values such as hard work responsibility and accountability as
responsibility and accountability as
responsibility and accountability as traditional Asian parents high marks in
traditional Asian parents high marks in
traditional Asian parents high marks in school was a top priority and also like
school was a top priority and also like
school was a top priority and also like many Asian parents feeding your child
many Asian parents feeding your child
many Asian parents feeding your child food was a symbol of giving them good
food was a symbol of giving them good
food was a symbol of giving them good health in nourishment and they fed me
health in nourishment and they fed me
health in nourishment and they fed me quite well
quite well
quite well [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] I don’t need to tell you who I was in
I don’t need to tell you who I was in
I don’t need to tell you who I was in that picture this is a picture of me and
that picture this is a picture of me and
that picture this is a picture of me and three of my cousins were all the same
three of my cousins were all the same
three of my cousins were all the same age different sizes now my curiosity
age different sizes now my curiosity
age different sizes now my curiosity about myself was also influenced by the
about myself was also influenced by the
about myself was also influenced by the experience that I had as a child
experience that I had as a child
experience that I had as a child and teachers played a large part in that
and teachers played a large part in that
and teachers played a large part in that in grade two I decided for whatever
in grade two I decided for whatever
in grade two I decided for whatever reason to audition for the school choir
reason to audition for the school choir
reason to audition for the school choir I could not sing but I auditioned
I could not sing but I auditioned
I could not sing but I auditioned anyways and this is like American Idol
anyways and this is like American Idol
anyways and this is like American Idol for seven year olds I got there and I
for seven year olds I got there and I
for seven year olds I got there and I sang twinkle twinkle little star the
sang twinkle twinkle little star the
sang twinkle twinkle little star the next day the music teacher posted a
next day the music teacher posted a
next day the music teacher posted a piece of paper on the music room door
piece of paper on the music room door
piece of paper on the music room door with all the names of the kids that made
with all the names of the kids that made
with all the names of the kids that made the choir and all of us ran excitedly
the choir and all of us ran excitedly
the choir and all of us ran excitedly and I was right in the middle of it and
and I was right in the middle of it and
and I was right in the middle of it and I scanned that list of names and I
I scanned that list of names and I
I scanned that list of names and I scanned it again and a third time and my
scanned it again and a third time and my
scanned it again and a third time and my name was not on that list
name was not on that list
name was not on that list virtually every other kid’s name was on
virtually every other kid’s name was on
virtually every other kid’s name was on that list and I remember thinking to
that list and I remember thinking to
that list and I remember thinking to myself I’m never ever going to take a
myself I’m never ever going to take a
myself I’m never ever going to take a risk ever again fortunately I had
risk ever again fortunately I had
risk ever again fortunately I had teachers that encouraged other things in
teachers that encouraged other things in
teachers that encouraged other things in me they encouraged me to be a leader to
me they encouraged me to be a leader to
me they encouraged me to be a leader to organize events to help other students
organize events to help other students
organize events to help other students that need a support and it was those
that need a support and it was those
that need a support and it was those teachers that gave me the confidence to
teachers that gave me the confidence to
teachers that gave me the confidence to focus on my strengths and not my
focus on my strengths and not my
focus on my strengths and not my weaknesses they were the ones that
weaknesses they were the ones that
weaknesses they were the ones that helped me shape this identity where it
helped me shape this identity where it
helped me shape this identity where it really became about what I was able to
really became about what I was able to
really became about what I was able to do and not what I was unable to do and I
do and not what I was unable to do and I
do and not what I was unable to do and I think it really takes your identity to
think it really takes your identity to
think it really takes your identity to form to a point where you know yourself
form to a point where you know yourself
form to a point where you know yourself and then you can focus on helping other
and then you can focus on helping other
and then you can focus on helping other people so it was into high school and
people so it was into high school and
people so it was into high school and university where I really start to
university where I really start to
university where I really start to explore and understand compassion
explore and understand compassion
explore and understand compassion through volunteering I was interested in
through volunteering I was interested in
through volunteering I was interested in curious about other people and how I
curious about other people and how I
curious about other people and how I could help now caring and compassion are
could help now caring and compassion are
could help now caring and compassion are part of human nature but I think it also
part of human nature but I think it also
part of human nature but I think it also needs some nurturing recently I have a 3
needs some nurturing recently I have a 3
needs some nurturing recently I have a 3 year old son Gavin and he was goofing
year old son Gavin and he was goofing
year old son Gavin and he was goofing around
around
around at the top of the staircase that led to
at the top of the staircase that led to
at the top of the staircase that led to our basement and they’re about 20 stairs
our basement and they’re about 20 stairs
our basement and they’re about 20 stairs he can anticipate what’s gonna happen in
he can anticipate what’s gonna happen in
he can anticipate what’s gonna happen in this story he fell down the stairs and
this story he fell down the stairs and
this story he fell down the stairs and my six-year-old daughter Maddy was
my six-year-old daughter Maddy was
my six-year-old daughter Maddy was eating dinner at the dinner table
eating dinner at the dinner table
eating dinner at the dinner table completely apathetic to her brother’s
completely apathetic to her brother’s
completely apathetic to her brother’s pain my wife and I ran down and tended
pain my wife and I ran down and tended
pain my wife and I ran down and tended to him and thankfully he was okay so
to him and thankfully he was okay so
to him and thankfully he was okay so then we turned our attention to our
then we turned our attention to our
then we turned our attention to our daughter and my wife took this as an
daughter and my wife took this as an
daughter and my wife took this as an opportunity to have a teaching moment
opportunity to have a teaching moment
opportunity to have a teaching moment and after the lesson on empathy Maddy
and after the lesson on empathy Maddy
and after the lesson on empathy Maddy wrote a letter together it’s one of
wrote a letter together it’s one of
wrote a letter together it’s one of those times as a parent that you’re
those times as a parent that you’re
those times as a parent that you’re quite proud of what transpires now but
quite proud of what transpires now but
quite proud of what transpires now but there’s bad news compassion and empathy
there’s bad news compassion and empathy
there’s bad news compassion and empathy have taken a backseat to the pursuit of
have taken a backseat to the pursuit of
have taken a backseat to the pursuit of wealth in the marketplace compassion is
wealth in the marketplace compassion is
wealth in the marketplace compassion is often seen as an exercise in charity and
often seen as an exercise in charity and
often seen as an exercise in charity and there’s nothing wrong with that per se
there’s nothing wrong with that per se
there’s nothing wrong with that per se but when you equate giving back often
but when you equate giving back often
but when you equate giving back often more often than not that becomes an
more often than not that becomes an
more often than not that becomes an afterthought so we live in this world
afterthought so we live in this world
afterthought so we live in this world where we have certain false assumptions
where we have certain false assumptions
where we have certain false assumptions that we believe that there’s this
that we believe that there’s this
that we believe that there’s this invisible hand coordinating all of us
invisible hand coordinating all of us
invisible hand coordinating all of us selfish beings and the philosopher Adam
selfish beings and the philosopher Adam
selfish beings and the philosopher Adam Smith who wrote wealth of nations well
Smith who wrote wealth of nations well
Smith who wrote wealth of nations well he also wrote another book called Theory
he also wrote another book called Theory
he also wrote another book called Theory of Moral Sentiments and in that book he
of Moral Sentiments and in that book he
of Moral Sentiments and in that book he describes human behavior quite
describes human behavior quite
describes human behavior quite differently than this invisible hand
differently than this invisible hand
differently than this invisible hand concept he describes us deriving our
concept he describes us deriving our
concept he describes us deriving our happiness when we see others being happy
happiness when we see others being happy
happiness when we see others being happy yet we still live in this economic model
yet we still live in this economic model
yet we still live in this economic model that casts humanity as primarily selfish
that casts humanity as primarily selfish
that casts humanity as primarily selfish where compassion and empathy are
where compassion and empathy are
where compassion and empathy are relegated as an afterthought this needs
relegated as an afterthought this needs
relegated as an afterthought this needs to change there are studies that show
to change there are studies that show
to change there are studies that show empathy does exist
empathy does exist
empathy does exist that you can generate empathy between
that you can generate empathy between
that you can generate empathy between two people and you can generate empathy
two people and you can generate empathy
two people and you can generate empathy between perfect strangers as well
between perfect strangers as well
between perfect strangers as well studies have shown that women are more
studies have shown that women are more
studies have shown that women are more empathic than men that testosterone is
empathic than men that testosterone is
empathic than men that testosterone is correlated to higher levels of
correlated to higher levels of
correlated to higher levels of competitive behavior and lower levels of
competitive behavior and lower levels of
competitive behavior and lower levels of collaboration so it’s not surprising
collaboration so it’s not surprising
collaboration so it’s not surprising that we have walked down this path where
that we have walked down this path where
that we have walked down this path where we see environmental destruction and
we see environmental destruction and
we see environmental destruction and increasing inequalities in society now
increasing inequalities in society now
increasing inequalities in society now the solution in my view is actually
the solution in my view is actually
the solution in my view is actually quite simple it’s not about let’s go
quite simple it’s not about let’s go
quite simple it’s not about let’s go colonize Mars or wait for a major
colonize Mars or wait for a major
colonize Mars or wait for a major technical or technological breakthrough
technical or technological breakthrough
technical or technological breakthrough we just have to look within and look
we just have to look within and look
we just have to look within and look deep into our history for example
deep into our history for example
deep into our history for example indigenous culture believes that all
indigenous culture believes that all
indigenous culture believes that all humans are connected to a common system
humans are connected to a common system
humans are connected to a common system are connected to mother earth compassion
are connected to mother earth compassion
are connected to mother earth compassion is a core value of humanity but we just
is a core value of humanity but we just
is a core value of humanity but we just need to express it and when it gets
need to express it and when it gets
need to express it and when it gets challenged when opposing or misaligned
challenged when opposing or misaligned
challenged when opposing or misaligned forces challenge us well that’s when we
forces challenge us well that’s when we
forces challenge us well that’s when we need courage I went to University of
need courage I went to University of
need courage I went to University of Alberta and I had some amazing
Alberta and I had some amazing
Alberta and I had some amazing professors well when I was there but I
professors well when I was there but I
professors well when I was there but I also had some professors that didn’t
also had some professors that didn’t
also had some professors that didn’t believe that social impact in business
believe that social impact in business
believe that social impact in business necessarily related to each other and
necessarily related to each other and
necessarily related to each other and this became increasingly uncomfortable
this became increasingly uncomfortable
this became increasingly uncomfortable for me because that conflicted with my
for me because that conflicted with my
for me because that conflicted with my personal values and so this doesn’t
personal values and so this doesn’t
personal values and so this doesn’t really make sense in retrospect but I
really make sense in retrospect but I
really make sense in retrospect but I decided to take more school to stay in
decided to take more school to stay in
decided to take more school to stay in school and I committed to doing a PhD my
school and I committed to doing a PhD my
school and I committed to doing a PhD my intention was to explore that space of
intention was to explore that space of
intention was to explore that space of integrating sustainability concepts in
integrating sustainability concepts in
integrating sustainability concepts in our business teaching so I did this PhD
our business teaching so I did this PhD
our business teaching so I did this PhD and partway through I was trying to
and partway through I was trying to
and partway through I was trying to balance this life of staying involved in
balance this life of staying involved in
balance this life of staying involved in the community but also focusing on
the community but also focusing on
the community but also focusing on academics so I wasn’t the most
academics so I wasn’t the most
academics so I wasn’t the most productive PhD student so one day our
productive PhD student so one day our
productive PhD student so one day our PhD coordinator calls me into his office
PhD coordinator calls me into his office
PhD coordinator calls me into his office and
and
and remember it so viscerally it was cold it
remember it so viscerally it was cold it
remember it so viscerally it was cold it was in the winter it has blistering
was in the winter it has blistering
was in the winter it has blistering winds snow was flying it was dark it was
winds snow was flying it was dark it was
winds snow was flying it was dark it was just me and him Friday like 4 o’clock
just me and him Friday like 4 o’clock
just me and him Friday like 4 o’clock assist me down and says Leo I think you
assist me down and says Leo I think you
assist me down and says Leo I think you should quit the program and it’s one of
should quit the program and it’s one of
should quit the program and it’s one of those moments where you feel like every
those moments where you feel like every
those moments where you feel like every fiber of your body is being tested how
fiber of your body is being tested how
fiber of your body is being tested how do you respond to this challenge so I
do you respond to this challenge so I
do you respond to this challenge so I took some time it was probably just a
took some time it was probably just a
took some time it was probably just a few seconds but it felt like minutes and
few seconds but it felt like minutes and
few seconds but it felt like minutes and I responded I said no thanks very
I responded I said no thanks very
I responded I said no thanks very Canadian way of responding no thanks
you know I I am committed to the things
you know I I am committed to the things that I believe in and I truly believe
that I believe in and I truly believe
that I believe in and I truly believe that I want to make a difference in this
that I want to make a difference in this
that I want to make a difference in this world I’m gonna stay involved in the
world I’m gonna stay involved in the
world I’m gonna stay involved in the things that I believe in in the
things that I believe in in the
things that I believe in in the community but I also want to be able to
community but I also want to be able to
community but I also want to be able to accomplish some of this through my work
accomplish some of this through my work
accomplish some of this through my work in as an academic through my teaching
in as an academic through my teaching
in as an academic through my teaching and my research so we kind of agreed to
and my research so we kind of agreed to
and my research so we kind of agreed to disagree but he didn’t force me out I
disagree but he didn’t force me out I
disagree but he didn’t force me out I luckily survived and I finished my PhD I
luckily survived and I finished my PhD I
luckily survived and I finished my PhD I mean the story would be very different
mean the story would be very different
mean the story would be very different if I didn’t finish and it would be a
if I didn’t finish and it would be a
if I didn’t finish and it would be a really flat story so thankfully I
really flat story so thankfully I
really flat story so thankfully I finished and you know I look back at
finished and you know I look back at
finished and you know I look back at that time with a lot of pride that I was
that time with a lot of pride that I was
that time with a lot of pride that I was able to stand up for some of the beliefs
able to stand up for some of the beliefs
able to stand up for some of the beliefs that I had that if I didn’t know myself
that I had that if I didn’t know myself
that I had that if I didn’t know myself well enough I don’t think I would have
well enough I don’t think I would have
well enough I don’t think I would have had the courage to stand up at that
had the courage to stand up at that
had the courage to stand up at that challenge point now he asked me he told
challenge point now he asked me he told
challenge point now he asked me he told me this during our meeting he said
me this during our meeting he said
me this during our meeting he said serving the community while serving or
serving the community while serving or
serving the community while serving or studying business will not make you
studying business will not make you
studying business will not make you successful and that has stuck with me so
successful and that has stuck with me so
successful and that has stuck with me so much it’s not because my career now is
much it’s not because my career now is
much it’s not because my career now is all in spite of the thing that he said
all in spite of the thing that he said
all in spite of the thing that he said but when certain people say things to
but when certain people say things to
but when certain people say things to you it drives a certain type of behavior
you it drives a certain type of behavior
you it drives a certain type of behavior and certain type of response and I share
and certain type of response and I share
and certain type of response and I share this with my students all the time to
this with my students all the time to
this with my students all the time to really be the determiner of your own
really be the determiner of your own
really be the determiner of your own success and not let other people
success and not let other people
success and not let other people determine how you see success
so when you bring people together into a
so when you bring people together into a community and you’re all working for
community and you’re all working for
community and you’re all working for this common goal to better the lives of
this common goal to better the lives of
this common goal to better the lives of people in this world it is probably the
people in this world it is probably the
people in this world it is probably the most powerful experience you’re going to
most powerful experience you’re going to
most powerful experience you’re going to have you can’t do it alone you have to
have you can’t do it alone you have to
have you can’t do it alone you have to work with others and so let me just
work with others and so let me just
work with others and so let me just demonstrate quickly a simple test to
demonstrate quickly a simple test to
demonstrate quickly a simple test to show the value of collaboration or I
show the value of collaboration or I
show the value of collaboration or I guess the opposite of that in this test
guess the opposite of that in this test
guess the opposite of that in this test all you need to do is look at the first
all you need to do is look at the first
all you need to do is look at the first three lines of this passage and count
three lines of this passage and count
three lines of this passage and count the number of times you see the letter F
for most people you’ll see more than at
for most people you’ll see more than at least one how many people here see two
least one how many people here see two
least one how many people here see two F’s how many people see three FS how
F’s how many people see three FS how
F’s how many people see three FS how many people see four X so the majority
many people see four X so the majority
many people see four X so the majority of people saw three EPs let me show you
of people saw three EPs let me show you
of people saw three EPs let me show you where those FS are most of you saw this
where those FS are most of you saw this
where those FS are most of you saw this one most of you saw this one and then
one most of you saw this one and then
one most of you saw this one and then here are
here are
here are the third and the fourth together now
the third and the fourth together now
the third and the fourth together now doing it by yourself the majority were
doing it by yourself the majority were
doing it by yourself the majority were unsuccessful but if you were able to
unsuccessful but if you were able to
unsuccessful but if you were able to collaborate if you could just help each
collaborate if you could just help each
collaborate if you could just help each other you would have avoided this the
other you would have avoided this the
other you would have avoided this the syndrome where you repeat the same
syndrome where you repeat the same
syndrome where you repeat the same strategies so in a community we need to
strategies so in a community we need to
strategies so in a community we need to come together I’m going to leave with
come together I’m going to leave with
come together I’m going to leave with this thought that we want you to promise
this thought that we want you to promise
this thought that we want you to promise yourself to be a change maker express
yourself to be a change maker express
yourself to be a change maker express that to the public
that to the public
that to the public the cozy Johnson a 12 year old he passed
the cozy Johnson a 12 year old he passed
the cozy Johnson a 12 year old he passed away in with his 12 year old he was a
away in with his 12 year old he was a
away in with his 12 year old he was a South African child activist born with
South African child activist born with
South African child activist born with hiv/aids
hiv/aids
hiv/aids he said do all you can with what you
he said do all you can with what you
he said do all you can with what you have and the time you have in the place
have and the time you have in the place
have and the time you have in the place you are because change starts from
you are because change starts from
you are because change starts from within thank you
within thank you
within thank you [Applause]
”
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