[Applause] [Music]
white supremacist Nazi Flags Nazi
white supremacist Nazi Flags Nazi salutes clashing with a group of
salutes clashing with a group of
salutes clashing with a group of protesters over the removal of a
protesters over the removal of a
protesters over the removal of a Confederate statue someone drove a car
Confederate statue someone drove a car
Confederate statue someone drove a car into a group of people intentionally
into a group of people intentionally
into a group of people intentionally and a woman was killed Charlottesville
and a woman was killed Charlottesville
and a woman was killed Charlottesville Virginia America 2017 Charlottesville
Virginia America 2017 Charlottesville
Virginia America 2017 Charlottesville hit me hard really hard is this our new
hit me hard really hard is this our new
hit me hard really hard is this our new reality sadly it looks a lot like our
reality sadly it looks a lot like our
reality sadly it looks a lot like our old reality the racial division that has
old reality the racial division that has
old reality the racial division that has haunted this country for over 200 years
haunted this country for over 200 years
haunted this country for over 200 years is still with us what happened in
is still with us what happened in
is still with us what happened in Charlottesville could happen anywhere
Charlottesville could happen anywhere
Charlottesville could happen anywhere any city or town across this country I
any city or town across this country I
any city or town across this country I think we all watch the news with a
think we all watch the news with a
think we all watch the news with a disturbing sense of helplessness what
disturbing sense of helplessness what
disturbing sense of helplessness what can we do about it what can I do about
can we do about it what can I do about
can we do about it what can I do about it
it
it as a CEO as the leader of a business
as a CEO as the leader of a business
as a CEO as the leader of a business with over 500 employees I struggled with
with over 500 employees I struggled with
with over 500 employees I struggled with how to react there was so much I wanted
how to react there was so much I wanted
how to react there was so much I wanted to say to our employees how shocked I
to say to our employees how shocked I
to say to our employees how shocked I was how disappointed how worried I was
was how disappointed how worried I was
was how disappointed how worried I was the riots were on a Saturday and
the riots were on a Saturday and
the riots were on a Saturday and throughout Saturday night and all Sunday
throughout Saturday night and all Sunday
throughout Saturday night and all Sunday I wondered whether I should reach out to
I wondered whether I should reach out to
I wondered whether I should reach out to our employees or whether because the
our employees or whether because the
our employees or whether because the issues were so politically charged so
issues were so politically charged so
issues were so politically charged so sensitive I should keep my thoughts to
sensitive I should keep my thoughts to
sensitive I should keep my thoughts to myself I knew better
myself I knew better
myself I knew better it was time for me to speak up it wasn’t
it was time for me to speak up it wasn’t
it was time for me to speak up it wasn’t hard to put words to paper but I I just
hard to put words to paper but I I just
hard to put words to paper but I I just wanted to get it right I I wanted to to
wanted to get it right I I wanted to to
wanted to get it right I I wanted to to convey not only what I was feeling but
convey not only what I was feeling but
convey not only what I was feeling but also to encourage others to speak up so
also to encourage others to speak up so
also to encourage others to speak up so it took me over two days to get
it took me over two days to get
it took me over two days to get comfortable with my message I put it out
comfortable with my message I put it out
comfortable with my message I put it out on my blog on Wednesday morning I made
on my blog on Wednesday morning I made
on my blog on Wednesday morning I made it clear what we saw in charlottesville
it clear what we saw in charlottesville
it clear what we saw in charlottesville must not be tolerated the racism bigotry
must not be tolerated the racism bigotry
must not be tolerated the racism bigotry hatred any semitism it’s just revolting
hatred any semitism it’s just revolting
hatred any semitism it’s just revolting I thought it was well received I got
I thought it was well received I got
I thought it was well received I got more likes and comments than ever before
more likes and comments than ever before
more likes and comments than ever before our our employees seem to understand
our our employees seem to understand
our our employees seem to understand what I was trying to say and appreciate
what I was trying to say and appreciate
what I was trying to say and appreciate me putting it out there I was feeling
me putting it out there I was feeling
me putting it out there I was feeling better about it I thought I’d done the
better about it I thought I’d done the
better about it I thought I’d done the right thing and then at the end of the
right thing and then at the end of the
right thing and then at the end of the week one of our younger colleagues
week one of our younger colleagues
week one of our younger colleagues confronted me I like what you wrote but
confronted me I like what you wrote but
confronted me I like what you wrote but why did it take you so long
those were his exact words and I was
those were his exact words and I was stunned and I knew he was right why did
stunned and I knew he was right why did
stunned and I knew he was right why did it take me so long to speak up this
it take me so long to speak up this
it take me so long to speak up this isn’t easy for me it’s a way out of my
isn’t easy for me it’s a way out of my
isn’t easy for me it’s a way out of my comfort zone trust me
comfort zone trust me
comfort zone trust me I really am a very nervous public
I really am a very nervous public
I really am a very nervous public speaker but now I know more than ever
speaker but now I know more than ever
speaker but now I know more than ever how important it is for people in my
how important it is for people in my
how important it is for people in my position
position
position CEOs business leaders to speak up we
CEOs business leaders to speak up we
CEOs business leaders to speak up we must do our part this has been a journey
must do our part this has been a journey
must do our part this has been a journey it all started about 10 years ago when I
it all started about 10 years ago when I
it all started about 10 years ago when I put myself out in a very public way when
put myself out in a very public way when
put myself out in a very public way when a local environmental project Brown
a local environmental project Brown
a local environmental project Brown advisories office in Baltimore
advisories office in Baltimore
advisories office in Baltimore sits out on a pier water on three sides
sits out on a pier water on three sides
sits out on a pier water on three sides it really is beautiful this is a view
it really is beautiful this is a view
it really is beautiful this is a view that we often look at in the morning and
that we often look at in the morning and
that we often look at in the morning and it reminds us of the progress we’ve made
it reminds us of the progress we’ve made
it reminds us of the progress we’ve made but also of the progress we must still
but also of the progress we must still
but also of the progress we must still make Baltimore’s Harbor an old
make Baltimore’s Harbor an old
make Baltimore’s Harbor an old industrial city Harbor is just what you
industrial city Harbor is just what you
industrial city Harbor is just what you would think decades of neglect leaky
would think decades of neglect leaky
would think decades of neglect leaky sewage pipes stormwater runoff and trash
sewage pipes stormwater runoff and trash
sewage pipes stormwater runoff and trash yes 50 years after the Keep America
yes 50 years after the Keep America
yes 50 years after the Keep America Beautiful campaign people still litter
Beautiful campaign people still litter
Beautiful campaign people still litter there are days where it could it’s just
there are days where it could it’s just
there are days where it could it’s just disgusting
disgusting
disgusting I remember thinking something has to be
I remember thinking something has to be
I remember thinking something has to be done about this someone’s got to do
done about this someone’s got to do
done about this someone’s got to do something and then I look to my left and
something and then I look to my left and
something and then I look to my left and I look to my right and there was no one
I look to my right and there was no one
I look to my right and there was no one there and the someone became me the next
there and the someone became me the next
there and the someone became me the next thing I knew there I was at a press
thing I knew there I was at a press
thing I knew there I was at a press conference with the mayor of Baltimore
conference with the mayor of Baltimore
conference with the mayor of Baltimore kicking off a ten year effort to clean
kicking off a ten year effort to clean
kicking off a ten year effort to clean up the harbor the goal to make it
up the harbor the goal to make it
up the harbor the goal to make it swimmable and fishable in 2020 and then
swimmable and fishable in 2020 and then
swimmable and fishable in 2020 and then I really got out of my comfort zone I
I really got out of my comfort zone I
I really got out of my comfort zone I stepped forward and I said I would be
stepped forward and I said I would be
stepped forward and I said I would be the first person
the first person
the first person to swim across the harbor when we got
to swim across the harbor when we got
to swim across the harbor when we got the job done
people thought I was crazy really crazy
people thought I was crazy really crazy they still do I look at that picture I
they still do I look at that picture I
they still do I look at that picture I know what they’re thinking I’ve heard
know what they’re thinking I’ve heard
know what they’re thinking I’ve heard you’re gonna get sick that’s
you’re gonna get sick that’s
you’re gonna get sick that’s understandable you’re gonna drown that
understandable you’re gonna drown that
understandable you’re gonna drown that one puzzled me it’s not that far across
one puzzled me it’s not that far across
one puzzled me it’s not that far across and I think I’m a good enough swimmer
and I think I’m a good enough swimmer
and I think I’m a good enough swimmer but for many reasons I knew we could do
but for many reasons I knew we could do
but for many reasons I knew we could do it changes and regulations
it changes and regulations
it changes and regulations creative financing and new technology if
creative financing and new technology if
creative financing and new technology if you don’t already know them you should
you don’t already know them you should
you don’t already know them you should mister trash will professor trash will
mister trash will professor trash will
mister trash will professor trash will and soon to be installed Captain trash
and soon to be installed Captain trash
and soon to be installed Captain trash will solar powered water powered trash
will solar powered water powered trash
will solar powered water powered trash collectors they’re beautiful check out
collectors they’re beautiful check out
collectors they’re beautiful check out those eyes they’re famous to over 40
those eyes they’re famous to over 40
those eyes they’re famous to over 40 million hits on social media and on the
million hits on social media and on the
million hits on social media and on the top 10 of Reddit and not just once
top 10 of Reddit and not just once
top 10 of Reddit and not just once they’re also really really effective
they’re also really really effective
they’re also really really effective look at the data on their websites in
look at the data on their websites in
look at the data on their websites in just three years they’ve collected over
just three years they’ve collected over
just three years they’ve collected over 735 tons of trash 600,000 plastic
735 tons of trash 600,000 plastic
735 tons of trash 600,000 plastic bottles and 500,000 of those blue
bottles and 500,000 of those blue
bottles and 500,000 of those blue plastic grocery bags and this one this
plastic grocery bags and this one this
plastic grocery bags and this one this is my favorite 9.8 million cigarette
is my favorite 9.8 million cigarette
is my favorite 9.8 million cigarette butts I don’t know how they count them
butts I don’t know how they count them
butts I don’t know how they count them but they would fill a swimming pool
but they would fill a swimming pool
but they would fill a swimming pool that’s disgusting and I’m not swimming
that’s disgusting and I’m not swimming
that’s disgusting and I’m not swimming across that we knew it was time time to
across that we knew it was time time to
across that we knew it was time time to make a stand time the plant a flag and
make a stand time the plant a flag and
make a stand time the plant a flag and time to say publicly very publicly let’s
time to say publicly very publicly let’s
time to say publicly very publicly let’s not make any more excuses let’s get the
not make any more excuses let’s get the
not make any more excuses let’s get the job done
job done
job done and it was time for all of us especially
and it was time for all of us especially
and it was time for all of us especially for me to speak up it was my personal
for me to speak up it was my personal
for me to speak up it was my personal commitment as a business leader behind
commitment as a business leader behind
commitment as a business leader behind an environmental project
an environmental project
an environmental project that really got people’s attention I
feel great about it with three years
feel great about it with three years left to go we made a lot of progress
left to go we made a lot of progress
left to go we made a lot of progress there’s over 1 billion dollars in
there’s over 1 billion dollars in
there’s over 1 billion dollars in infrastructure projects underway we will
infrastructure projects underway we will
infrastructure projects underway we will get the job done and I will swim across
get the job done and I will swim across
get the job done and I will swim across bottom of harbor in 2020 and I won’t be
bottom of harbor in 2020 and I won’t be
bottom of harbor in 2020 and I won’t be alone many of you guys gonna be there
alone many of you guys gonna be there
alone many of you guys gonna be there right with me right there’s a sign-up
right with me right there’s a sign-up
right with me right there’s a sign-up sheet on our website we’re an advisory
sheet on our website we’re an advisory
sheet on our website we’re an advisory com it’s got lots of interesting
com it’s got lots of interesting
com it’s got lots of interesting questions right now it wants to know
questions right now it wants to know
questions right now it wants to know what stroke you’re going to use leading
what stroke you’re going to use leading
what stroke you’re going to use leading this effort has been a game changer
this effort has been a game changer
this effort has been a game changer for the project and for me personally no
for the project and for me personally no
for the project and for me personally no one should underestimate the impact that
one should underestimate the impact that
one should underestimate the impact that a business leader can make speaking up
a business leader can make speaking up
a business leader can make speaking up taking charge and putting the clout of a
taking charge and putting the clout of a
taking charge and putting the clout of a sizeable employer behind an
sizeable employer behind an
sizeable employer behind an environmental project it’s taught me
environmental project it’s taught me
environmental project it’s taught me some of the most valuable lessons of my
some of the most valuable lessons of my
some of the most valuable lessons of my life the role that a business leader can
life the role that a business leader can
life the role that a business leader can play and should play the value of my own
play and should play the value of my own
play and should play the value of my own voice and the need to get comfortable
voice and the need to get comfortable
voice and the need to get comfortable using it it’s taken a lot of time no
using it it’s taken a lot of time no
using it it’s taken a lot of time no question about it my board of directors
question about it my board of directors
question about it my board of directors some of my colleagues have been pretty
some of my colleagues have been pretty
some of my colleagues have been pretty vocal about this why are you taking so
vocal about this why are you taking so
vocal about this why are you taking so much time away from your job as CEO my
much time away from your job as CEO my
much time away from your job as CEO my day job as I often call it don’t you
day job as I often call it don’t you
day job as I often call it don’t you already have too much on your plate I’ve
already have too much on your plate I’ve
already have too much on your plate I’ve also heard you’re doing too much and
also heard you’re doing too much and
also heard you’re doing too much and CEOs should just worry about the numbers
CEOs should just worry about the numbers
CEOs should just worry about the numbers the numbers being CEO was about lot a
the numbers being CEO was about lot a
the numbers being CEO was about lot a lot more than numbers not that they’re
lot more than numbers not that they’re
lot more than numbers not that they’re not important they’re especially
not important they’re especially
not important they’re especially important to us I work at an investment
important to us I work at an investment
important to us I work at an investment firm but if all we did was focus on the
firm but if all we did was focus on the
firm but if all we did was focus on the numbers I wouldn’t be doing my job as
numbers I wouldn’t be doing my job as
numbers I wouldn’t be doing my job as CEO our leadership
CEO our leadership
CEO our leadership is needed outside the four walls of our
is needed outside the four walls of our
is needed outside the four walls of our offices as well our skills are needed
offices as well our skills are needed
offices as well our skills are needed our focus on results organizing
our focus on results organizing
our focus on results organizing effective teams setting deadlines using
effective teams setting deadlines using
effective teams setting deadlines using data holding people accountable all the
data holding people accountable all the
data holding people accountable all the things that are so important to running
things that are so important to running
things that are so important to running successful businesses are critical to
successful businesses are critical to
successful businesses are critical to getting things done in our community and
getting things done in our community and
getting things done in our community and our voices our communities need our
our voices our communities need our
our voices our communities need our voices they’re perhaps more important
voices they’re perhaps more important
voices they’re perhaps more important than anything when a CEO speaks up
than anything when a CEO speaks up
than anything when a CEO speaks up people listen especially in areas where
people listen especially in areas where
people listen especially in areas where we’ve been too quiet
we’ve been too quiet
we’ve been too quiet the environment sustainability diversity
the environment sustainability diversity
the environment sustainability diversity and inclusion and sexual harassment and
and inclusion and sexual harassment and
and inclusion and sexual harassment and when we don’t speak up people think we
when we don’t speak up people think we
when we don’t speak up people think we don’t care and if people think we don’t
don’t care and if people think we don’t
don’t care and if people think we don’t care then they think they don’t need to
care then they think they don’t need to
care then they think they don’t need to care and that would be a huge mistake
care and that would be a huge mistake
care and that would be a huge mistake and really dangerous history is filled
and really dangerous history is filled
and really dangerous history is filled with painful lessons for those who look
with painful lessons for those who look
with painful lessons for those who look the other way and we do care we care
the other way and we do care we care
the other way and we do care we care deeply about these issues they’re on our
deeply about these issues they’re on our
deeply about these issues they’re on our employees minds they’re on our families
employees minds they’re on our families
employees minds they’re on our families minds they dominate conversations around
minds they dominate conversations around
minds they dominate conversations around the dinner table every night our
the dinner table every night our
the dinner table every night our children care about them our
children care about them our
children care about them our grandchildren care about them there’s a
grandchildren care about them there’s a
grandchildren care about them there’s a moral side to this as well our
moral side to this as well our
moral side to this as well our businesses occupy really large
businesses occupy really large
businesses occupy really large footprints in our communities and with
footprints in our communities and with
footprints in our communities and with that comes lots of benefits but also
that comes lots of benefits but also
that comes lots of benefits but also some things that we just have to do
some things that we just have to do
some things that we just have to do because they’re the right things to do
because they’re the right things to do
because they’re the right things to do speaking up it’s not an option it’s our
speaking up it’s not an option it’s our
speaking up it’s not an option it’s our responsibility so why have we been so
responsibility so why have we been so
responsibility so why have we been so quiet I really think that many CEOs
quiet I really think that many CEOs
quiet I really think that many CEOs around the country are just like me we
around the country are just like me we
around the country are just like me we struggle with our role and too often we
struggle with our role and too often we
struggle with our role and too often we listen to people advising us who say
listen to people advising us who say
listen to people advising us who say focus on the numbers
focus on the numbers
focus on the numbers speak up but only if it’s going to make
speak up but only if it’s going to make
speak up but only if it’s going to make a difference in the numbers focus on
a difference in the numbers focus on
a difference in the numbers focus on your day job and above all keep your
your day job and above all keep your
your day job and above all keep your head down not me and not anymore
head down not me and not anymore
head down not me and not anymore so when Charles Fong came around I
so when Charles Fong came around I
so when Charles Fong came around I really did understand my responsibility
really did understand my responsibility
really did understand my responsibility as a business leader my younger
as a business leader my younger
as a business leader my younger colleague was spot on and I’m really
colleague was spot on and I’m really
colleague was spot on and I’m really proud of him for feeling comfortable to
proud of him for feeling comfortable to
proud of him for feeling comfortable to speak up I was a day too late but I just
speak up I was a day too late but I just
speak up I was a day too late but I just wanted to get it right
wanted to get it right
wanted to get it right I wrote to our employees we must speak
I wrote to our employees we must speak
I wrote to our employees we must speak up it’s our responsibility to do so I
up it’s our responsibility to do so I
up it’s our responsibility to do so I know there are still business leaders
know there are still business leaders
know there are still business leaders around the country trying to keep their
around the country trying to keep their
around the country trying to keep their heads down but keeping our heads down
heads down but keeping our heads down
heads down but keeping our heads down isn’t helping anyone it’s not working
isn’t helping anyone it’s not working
isn’t helping anyone it’s not working it’s time to try something different
it’s time to try something different
it’s time to try something different it’s time to tell people how much we
it’s time to tell people how much we
it’s time to tell people how much we care it’s time to tell people what we
care it’s time to tell people what we
care it’s time to tell people what we saw in Charles fell is unacceptable
saw in Charles fell is unacceptable
saw in Charles fell is unacceptable I know these issues have become
I know these issues have become
I know these issues have become politically sensitive ones they
politically sensitive ones they
politically sensitive ones they shouldn’t be it’s okay to have different
shouldn’t be it’s okay to have different
shouldn’t be it’s okay to have different political views it’s healthy and our
political views it’s healthy and our
political views it’s healthy and our businesses should be places where
businesses should be places where
businesses should be places where different views can be shared and
different views can be shared and
different views can be shared and debated and respected but they must also
debated and respected but they must also
debated and respected but they must also be places where people are encouraged to
be places where people are encouraged to
be places where people are encouraged to speak up for what is right and against
speak up for what is right and against
speak up for what is right and against what is wrong and what happened in
what is wrong and what happened in
what is wrong and what happened in Charlottesville is wrong period
this is being quite a journey for me
this is being quite a journey for me it’s it’s been wonderful and it’s been
it’s it’s been wonderful and it’s been
it’s it’s been wonderful and it’s been important it’s helped me to learn the
important it’s helped me to learn the
important it’s helped me to learn the power of my own voice and when to use it
power of my own voice and when to use it
power of my own voice and when to use it where it counts and loudly it’s gotten
where it counts and loudly it’s gotten
where it counts and loudly it’s gotten me way out of my comfort zone
me way out of my comfort zone
me way out of my comfort zone I mean I’m gonna jump in that Harbor one
I mean I’m gonna jump in that Harbor one
I mean I’m gonna jump in that Harbor one day and I’m speaking here with you when
day and I’m speaking here with you when
day and I’m speaking here with you when some pretty sensitive topics this is
some pretty sensitive topics this is
some pretty sensitive topics this is just the beginning
but you and I know that the
but you and I know that the responsibility is speaking up it’s not
responsibility is speaking up it’s not
responsibility is speaking up it’s not just on the shoulders of business
just on the shoulders of business
just on the shoulders of business leaders it’s not about me it’s about all
leaders it’s not about me it’s about all
leaders it’s not about me it’s about all of us think about your own
of us think about your own
of us think about your own responsibilities what do you care about
responsibilities what do you care about
responsibilities what do you care about what’s gonna get you out of your comfort
what’s gonna get you out of your comfort
what’s gonna get you out of your comfort zone
zone
zone let’s make Charlottesville stand for
let’s make Charlottesville stand for
let’s make Charlottesville stand for something positive
something positive
something positive let’s make Charles will stand for
let’s make Charles will stand for
let’s make Charles will stand for thinking about what’s important to you
thinking about what’s important to you
thinking about what’s important to you and then tell someone about it and do
and then tell someone about it and do
and then tell someone about it and do something about it and get out of your
something about it and get out of your
something about it and get out of your comfort zone speak up
comfort zone speak up
comfort zone speak up where it counts and really loudly
you
you [Applause]
”
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