July 9, 2010

I spent Wednesday night at The Museum with the 250 other people attending the third Ignite Waterloo. The event asks speakers to “Enlighten us, but do it quickly”, giving them five minutes and slides that advance automatically every 15 seconds to share their knowledge and passion.

Speakers shared their insights about listening, good management, social justice, vibrant arts and culture, and finding happiness. My spouse shared her insights about the role of education in shaping our society and asking us to consider how our education system is empowering and disempowering for people.

Near the end of the event, CTV had confirmed that University of Waterloo President David Johnston would be the next Governor General of Canada. With much of the room tweeting on BlackBerries and iPhones, the news circulated quickly.

On an evening where many of Waterloo’s brightest were sharing their passions and thinking about their world in new ways, it seemed appropriate that the university president that championed technical and social innovation, inclusion and diversity, and education and empowerment would become the conversation.

I first met David Johnston years ago when I was still an engineering student. There was a debate about academic freedom and the right level of corporate involvement after Microsoft announced a new partnership that seemed to unduly influence curriculum. I had brought David and other officials together in a public forum to talk about not only where the university was going, but to account for how it got there.

Over the next eight years, I had the occasion to work with David on the university’s Senate and Senate Finance Committee, as well as many other roles and projects centred on education, governance, mental health, and social innovation. And while I will always be grateful for his leadership, his collaborative approach, and his never-ending energy, there are two things in particular that stand out.

First, I remember his sound political advice. He knew how to highlight differences with opponents with respect and understanding. As someone who has had discussions and disagreements with David, I continue to respect his ability to move past the debates and recognize the shared goals and motivations and to mirror that approach in my own life. Since part of the Governor-General’s role is to provide advice to his Prime Minister, I have great confidence that David’s abilities and approach will serve the country well in the years ahead.

Second, I remember his humility and his eagerness to move forward. During that raucous debate over corporate influence and academic freedom, I was particularly pleased that David apologized at that public forum for where he felt they had erred, and pledged to correct the process for the future. It is a critical element of public service and leadership to have the great humility to acknowledge mistakes, to be truly sorry for them, and to be accountable for what you do next. I can only hope that this form of humility will find great take-up in Ottawa when David takes up residence at Rideau Hall.

Along with the rest of the Waterloo community, I will miss David’s outstanding leadership and contributions. I look forward to working with others to cultivate the seeds he planted, and continue to grow the even greater community that he helped us see we can become.