Ivy Leaguers have plenty of opportunities to hear from politicians and talking heads live and in person. Those at Penn will have the fortunate opportunity to hear from someone with an interesting story to tell from the real world, as it were.
Finance concentrators and chemical engineering majors may be quick to dismiss Russell Simmons as a good choice for this year's fall speaker. They would be missing out.
The Social Planning and Events Committee has picked someone to address the Penn community this fall that has really lived the American dream. Now that makes for an interesting talk.
Simmons is not just a hip-hop icon. He is a principal architect of what has become a $10 billion industry in this country. On top of that, Simmons has been an outspoken advocate for civil rights.
His rags-to-riches story began in Queens, N.Y., and by the age of 23, Simmons started his own record label, Def Jam. Today, Simmons is the chairman of a $220 million worldwide empire called Rush Communications, after his nickname growing up.
Simmons sold his stake in the urban apparel company Phat Farm last year for $140 million.
This success landed him the number three spot on Inc. magazine's list of the Top 25 Most Fascinating Entrepreneurs.
On a campus where plenty of people could care less what politicians have to say -- most of which is indeed highly predictable -- a person like Simmons will certainly draw a crowd for just being different. Those who show up at Irvine Auditorium next month will get the added bonus of hearing from someone who knows how to create their own success.
That's a fitting message any day.
