Vincent Wolfington discusses leadership, justice and success in business
Megan McKeron
Issue date: 9/22/09 Section: News
On Sept. 14 in McGuire Hall, business leader Vincent Wolfington spoke to Loyola students, faculty and administration about justice and leadership for the Loyola University's third annual Commitment to Justice Lecture.
Wolfington combined the ideas of stewardship, self interest, service, and Catholicism in his speech, "To Thine Own Self Be True," which informed his audience how to "promote justice as an expression of faith."
Wolfington attended Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution, where he played on the basketball team and served as president of his class and of the student body.
In 1969, Wolfington was named chairman of Carey Corporation, which he helped develop into a world-wide organization, today called Carey International.
He is now chairman of Global Ambassador Concierge, which offers guidance on culture, travel, and communication to travelers in the United States and China, and of Global Alliance Advisors, which is focused on helping international companies and investors abroad. He is also an executive committee member of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Wolfington credited much of his success in both the business world and as a man of faith to his family. When he was only 10 years old, he worked at his family's hotel near the ocean in New Jersey, where he learned a lot about helping and respecting others.
"I got a good picture of Mother Nature and a good picture of the nature of man," said Wolfington of his experiences with customers during his time at the Jersey shore.
His family also taught him a lot about faith; they would often say the rosary together after dinner. Wolfington described faith as "part of the family DNA."
When thinking about justice and faith, Wolfington chose four pillars upon which people should model their lives: stewardship, Adam Smith and the idea of self interest, Confucius and serving others, and Catholic intellectual tradition.
Stewardship, which Wolfington referred to as "the highest form of leadership," is a necessary component to succeed morally in the business world. Wolfington pointed out that most leaders are chosen or appointed and are considered higher up in companies than others, but do not have to address their own personal responsibilities.
Wolfington combined the ideas of stewardship, self interest, service, and Catholicism in his speech, "To Thine Own Self Be True," which informed his audience how to "promote justice as an expression of faith."
Wolfington attended Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution, where he played on the basketball team and served as president of his class and of the student body.
In 1969, Wolfington was named chairman of Carey Corporation, which he helped develop into a world-wide organization, today called Carey International.
He is now chairman of Global Ambassador Concierge, which offers guidance on culture, travel, and communication to travelers in the United States and China, and of Global Alliance Advisors, which is focused on helping international companies and investors abroad. He is also an executive committee member of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Wolfington credited much of his success in both the business world and as a man of faith to his family. When he was only 10 years old, he worked at his family's hotel near the ocean in New Jersey, where he learned a lot about helping and respecting others.
"I got a good picture of Mother Nature and a good picture of the nature of man," said Wolfington of his experiences with customers during his time at the Jersey shore.
His family also taught him a lot about faith; they would often say the rosary together after dinner. Wolfington described faith as "part of the family DNA."
When thinking about justice and faith, Wolfington chose four pillars upon which people should model their lives: stewardship, Adam Smith and the idea of self interest, Confucius and serving others, and Catholic intellectual tradition.
Stewardship, which Wolfington referred to as "the highest form of leadership," is a necessary component to succeed morally in the business world. Wolfington pointed out that most leaders are chosen or appointed and are considered higher up in companies than others, but do not have to address their own personal responsibilities.
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