Reid Hoffman, who played integral roles in founding the companies PayPal and LinkedIn, called on Vanderbilt University鈥檚 Class of 2022 to invest in true, substantial and enduring friendships as they set out on the next phases of their lives.
The entrepreneur, executive and philanthropist delivered the Graduates Day keynote address in Memorial Gymnasium on May 12, part of a two-day event celebrating the university鈥檚 .
鈥淎longside your family, making, cultivating and keeping close friendships may be your life鈥檚 most important work,鈥� Hoffman said. 鈥淥ur connections, and especially our friendships, are where we thrive and how we move forward and upward.鈥�
Hoffman is the 2022 recipient of Vanderbilt鈥檚 prestigious , one of the highest honors at the university.
鈥淩eid Hoffman has been a relentless innovator throughout his career, helping usher in a digital future that has fundamentally changed how the world lives and works,鈥澛犅爏aid. 鈥淵our words today have inspired all of us to keep learning with courage, with curiosity and with compassion.鈥�
Hoffman shared a series of anecdotes to illustrate how integral friendships shaped the trajectory of his personal and professional lives.
鈥淔irst, decide to make friendship a priority. Making an active choice that friendship matters to you is your best first step to ensure its place in your life,鈥� Hoffman said.
鈥淪econd, make friendship a conscious practice because it鈥檚 something you can work on,鈥� he said. 鈥淓stablish rituals such as having a weekly call, a monthly breakfast 鈥� talk with your friends about what the friendship means to you and how you鈥檇 improve it.鈥�
鈥淭hird, as you go forward, realize that less time doesn鈥檛 have to mean less friendship. Life is going to make a lot of demands on you, including many good things like partners, careers, hobbies, kids,鈥� Hoffman said. 鈥淟ife is most fulfilling as a team sport because we achieve more and feel better together.鈥�
THE NICHOLS-CHANCELLOR鈥橲 MEDAL
Recipients of the Nichols-Chancellor鈥檚 Medal are individuals who define the 21st century and exemplify the best qualities of the human spirit. It was created and endowed by Vanderbilt Law School graduate Ed Nichols and his wife, Janice, in honor of Edward Carmack Nichols and Lucile Hamby Nichols.
Previous honorees include Dr. Anthony Fauci, Caroline Kennedy, Toni Morrison, First Lady Laura Bush and other distinguished speakers.
Hoffman plans to donate his $100,000 cash prize for the Nichols-Chancellor鈥檚 Medal to聽, an organization that creates a network of diverse leaders with a goal of closing the racial wealth gap.
INTERFAITH AND ALUMNI COMMUNITY WELCOME
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs introduced representatives from the , , and to deliver words of support and prayers for members of the Class of 2022.
The speakers included:
- Interfaith Council President Madelynn Roche
- Hindu faith student speaker聽Vitrag Patel
- Judaism faith student speaker聽Alex Grace
- Islam faith student speaker Mariam Nadi
- Christian faith student speaker聽Dylan Kistler
- Alumni Association President Tim Warnock, BA鈥�84
- Senior Class Fund President Lilley Salmon
- Graduate and professional student representative聽Carcia Carson
- Student Government President Hannah Bruns
