May 16, 2022: My talk on GNH to 100 employees (25 in-person & 75 virtually) at Boston Federal Reserve

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May 5, 2022: Class Commencement Speech- 2021-22 Humphrey Program Boston University

Thank you for voting me and giving me the most precious and singular honour to give this class commencement speech. I am very glad to take this role and share some personal anecdotes- a chance I plan to take full advantage of now.

One of the things we learned in the Humphrey Leadership program is story telling.

So let me tell you a story.

More than 8 months ago on August of 15 and 16 2021, as soon as we landed at the Boston Logan Airport…, 11 of us boarded the ship called Humphrey Program Boston University. The captain of the ship was called Yoo Jin and the Co-captains were named Kristyn and Wendy. We all said “aye aye captain” – meaning leaving behind our beautiful job, family, and friends in our country to embrace a new chapter in our life of leadership journey.

So the first thing the captain and the co-captain said to greet us WAS…. “put on your mask” and “show me your green badge”. Eventually, it became a ritual showing of the green badges every week with our faces covered.

And then only said “welcome abroad- We shall make a journey across seven seas of leadership”. And sooo did the… Journey of seven seas began.

The first journey was the rigorous journey of the online orientation program for two weeks acquainting us with opening a bank account, library account, orienting with sexual harassment, matching us up with host families and last and most exciting part of the orientation was the Boston Duck Tour. It was exciting not because we got to scream quack quack. And not because the tour guide said “on the right this is the old statehouse built in 1713” but because, we saw the entire cohort including the co-captains…. in person for the first time after 2 weeks of our arrival. Oh what a journey we had…Quack quack…So while Captains were busy setting rules and orienting us… We quietly sneaked into each other’s room at Buswell street and North Boston to know each other’s culture, politics, government, problems, food, songs and dances, women….. and man and many other things. I was the first to break the ice to share about Gross National Happiness of Bhutan.  

The second most important journey was the weekly Humphrey Leadership seminars and site visits. In this leadership journey, our Captain taught us the concepts of cultural & emotional intelligence, story-telling, growth mindset, managing difficult conversations, stereotypes AND… challenging the status quo. Oh my we… Challenged Ourselves…Against each other AND ..Also the Captain. Charles Dickens quote “It was the best of times and It was the worst of times” unquote. After all….A gem cannot be polished without friction. And I am very proud to say Now that we built Bridges and Not Walls amongst ourselves- a quotation that not only hangs in front of our Humphrey Office but IS…deeply within each and every one of us.

The third and most fascinating journey was the journey with Host families which Barbera described the journey a moment ago. I will always remember the first day I met with my host family Doris, Don and Gloria at Davis Square.On behalf of all the Humphrey Fellows, I would like to express our gratitude to all the host families for getting us easily acquainted with Boston and exposing us the American culture.We thank you for making our weekends and holidays wonderful;We thank you all for taking us into to several places, shopping, Christmas lighting, hiking, skiing, watching games, And… concerts, And…for the FREE food, including Marshmallows and Lobsters… Most importantly we thank you for making our stay at Boston meaningful and educational with full of joy and happiness. Directly/indirectly you all helped us step away from the ABYSS of getting depressed or missing our friends and family back home and making our Humphrey Program the most memorable one. To All our Dear host families, Thank you so much. 

The fourth journey was the journey of a minimum of 10 hrs of community service. We kick started this journey with 2-hour Charles River clean up. Never felt like undergoing a mandatory service to make up FOR… something wrong you have committed in high schools. Instead, we enjoyed and Felt Great contributing our services. Today as I walk across this beautiful walkway, I walk with a sense of belongingness.

The Fifth journey we had…. was the journey of individual program plans… So each of us traveled separately to deep dive into our four academic classes and 2-3 PDP classes spread over two semesters. I must say BU stands out for Humphrey Fellows because of the erudite professors. I salute BU. And thank you all the professors and Academic Advisors.

The sixth journey was the journey of conferences and networking.  We all attended the one-week Global Leadership Forum at Washington DC in fall last year.  A conference amongst 161 Humphrey fellows from 94 different countries. Wow, we felt it was a mini–United Nation Conference. We also attended the workshops and conferences at the BU, MIT, Harvard, Syracuse and California AND extended our Networks. Well- some of us also made it for dinner party with Michelle Wu. This journey provided us the platform to build network of friendship with professionals around the world and with the Americans. Today, I am very proud to share that….Within just 9 months I have made intimate network of Humphrey friends all over 30 countries in the world and made professional networks from the streets of Manhattan New York to the headquarters of Boston Federal Reserve. From universities in East coast of Boston and Harvard….to the West coast of UC Davis- California, and the institutions in Massachusetts from Greenway Park-Boston to…Washington Trust Bank-Rhode Island. 

The last and the seventh journey and the most important journey, which many of us are still continuing is the journey of Professional Affiliation of working in a US institution for six weeks. I am very proud to announce that Mrs Marry Noons and Mr. Steven Larson my Supervisor from Washington Trust Bank is here with us today. Thank you for coming. Mrs Marry and Mr. Steve has been very kind to share me all his banking experience and is helping me every week to design an affordable housing program for hardworking civil servants in my country. I ask a lot of questions to him every week. Mrs Marry and Mr. Steve thank you for having me at your bank and I appreciate your time and all your responses. I am confident all my fellows are equally enjoying this final journey.

My Capstone presentation yesterday was inspired by my experience from working at Washington Trust Bank. I admire the leadership and organizational culture of the bank. And I enjoyed the Eminem songs you danced with… during the Best Employee Award Day. I am also learning a lot of American expressions like “I am going bananas” and “you are So sick”- meaning you are awesome. I have many things to emulate from this quintessential bank. 

Finally, as we prepare to dock out of the Humphrey ship today, I want everyone here to join me to than our Captain Yoo Jin and Co-captains Kristin and Wendy for job well done. We are all set.

Thank you to all the US Tax payers and government for funding this program. Thank you, Joe Biden Mr President and Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State for signing our certificates. 

And also, to our parents, spouse and family whether you are physically here OR back in our country. Thank you for the support. This Humphrey certificate is dedicated to you.

In concluding my speech today, I want to say three things reflecting our Humphry leadership journey. 

One: Our Humphrey time here at Boston will not be remembered by grades, awesome presentations, popularity, and places you visited, but by the relationships we built over time. As one of the wise men said “it is not the destination it is the journey”. I enjoyed my journey with you all. AND I hope to continue this friendship/relationship we forged together.

Two: Going ahead…As we embark or resume our leadership journey in our respective organizations or wherever your passion lies ahead. Let us all "leave a legacy" and "achieve greatness" like Hubert Humphrey. And in doing so not to be deceived with greed for money, recognition and power, but to leave those with Whom you cross paths with little more happiness and hope….So good luck everyone in your new journey. 

Third and Final one: AS I reflect … the journey of SEVEN seas….And few of us become parents in the process, I now reflect that leadership is… ALL about.. committing oneself to be an infinite scholar of parenthood for the growth and development of the community we live in.  Therefore, in this very hall of Questrom School of Business, I want to announce my four leadership commitments and I urge everyone to join me.

One: Let us all commit for bigger world/community rather than for ourselves/our institutions.

Two: Let us all commit for integrity rather than Rules. 

Three: Let us all commit for Actions rather than the fancy position titles. and

Four: most importantly Let us all commit for Leadership of self rather than Leadership of Others.

Congratulations to 2021-22 BU Humphrey Fellows and to those who helped as get here.

Thank you.