A down-to-earth speech and an old photograph of the Wharton School dean brought a dose of reality with a trace of humor to the Wharton School's Master of Business Administration commencement last Sunday.
Although some unanticipated economic changes have occurred over the course of the academic year, Wharton School Dean Patrick Harker praised the graduating class for its leadership, spirit and optimism.
"I've learned more about leadership from you than any other class in my 17 years here," Harker said to the group of almost 900 graduates.
David S. Pottruck -- the ceremony's keynote speaker -- also spoke of hardships, as he reflected upon some of his own difficulties.
But before the University Trustee spoke about his own life, Pottruck noted a few changes that have occurred since he was an undergraduate at Penn. In particular, Pottruck brought to attention Harker's new "clean and academic look" -- as opposed to the "porno mustache" that he sported years ago.
Pottruck -- a 1970 College and 1972 Wharton alumnus -- atrributed his success as a businessman to the lessons that he learned early on in his life .
He acknowledged three of his own failures that led to his ultimate success -- not being selected for the National Football League draft, not getting into any of the 55 medical schools he applied to and his initial inability to find a job that didn't put him to sleep.
"I wish I knew that my failure to get into medical school was a blessing in disguise," said Pottruck.
But along with his success came other pitfalls.
"My focus on my career cost me two marriages," Pottruck said.
However, Pottruck said that his MBA still means more to him than just a "Mongo Bank Account."
"An MBA means something very special to me," Pottruck said as he created a new acronym for the initials of his degree. "Make a difference, Break the mold... and Accept feedback and coaching."
Pottruck claimed that this motto has made him a better person.
Following the ceremony, Wharton graduates responded positively to Pottruck's humorous remarks.
"I particularly liked Pottruck's speech," Wharton graduate Faith Nsereko said. "It shows that if you fail it is just a speed bump and you look ahead and you learn from it and then you will be able to suceed."
Other graduates simply were pleased about how humble Pottruck and other speakers seemed.
"These are not stuck up people -- these are human beings with humor," Wharton graduate Thierry Moussa said.
