Unwavering Values
September 23, 2002 – Mike Eskew, chairman and CEO, accepted the A. Leon Higgenbotham Corporate Leadership Award in New York, NY. In his acceptance speech, Eskew emphasized the importance of diversity and encouraging employee's talents to flourish by creating an environment that encourages diversity. He further explained that despite the affects of the events of the past year, the world is growing global and is experiencing change, but that one thing must never change: the value of doing what’s right, not what’s easy.
Thank you, Bill, and good evening, everyone.
What a tremendous honor this is. On behalf of our 370,000 UPS employees around the world, I want to extend my deepest thanks to the Lawyers’ Committee for this wonderful recognition.
I also want to take just a moment to recognize the great work of Bill Brown and the lasting legacy of Bernie Segal -- two people who’ve left an indelible mark on the ideals of equality and justice … on the Lawyers’ Committee … and on UPS.
Bill … we appreciate all you’ve done.
I should feel nervous speaking to so many lawyers … but you’ve made me feel right at home.
As some of you may know, we at UPS celebrated our 95th anniversary last month.
Two weeks before our founder, Jim Casey, delivered his first package, he borrowed $100 dollars and set up shop. His first payment was for rent for the 6-by-17-foot basement office. The second payment, you guessed it, was for attorney fees … $5 dollars.
I know it’s a long shot, but I asked our Chief Counsel, Joe Moderow, to check and see if that attorney is still around!
In preparing for tonight, I was struck by a few words spoken by Professor Charles Ogletree, who delivered the eulogy at Judge Higgenbotham’s memorial service back in December of 1998.
In referring to Judge Higgenbotham’s life-long accomplishments, Professor Ogletree remarked, and I quote: "It is important to note, as the Bible tells us, that like Paul, "He has fought the good fight … he has finished the course … and he has kept the faith." (endquote)
Those attributes … those values of fighting the good fight … finishing the course … keeping the faith – have never been more relevant … more needed … than in the world we live in today.
A world that values strong and ethical leadership.
A world that understands the vital link between social justice and economic empowerment.
A world that’s appraising a new balance sheet … a balance sheet in which the most valuable assets lie in the diversity of people … cultures … ideas … and thoughts.
Judge Higgenbotham certainly understood those assets. He grew up in the same times as UPS.
Technically, I guess you could call UPS an older brother – we were born in 1907 … Judge Higgenbotham in 1928. But by and large we grew up witnessing the same watershed moments of the 20th century.
War … the Depression … the growth of big industry … the Civil Rights movement … the technology explosion … and the increasing globalization of our economy.
While we grew up together … we also grew up in different worlds.
We adapted to those worlds based on our skills and passions. The judge as a practitioner of law … an academic … a statesman.
UPS as a company adapting to new business models … new technologies … and new markets.
And over the years at UPS our strategies … our missions … and our purposes may have changed. But our values have never wavered.
We believe – and I think that film you saw earlier points out -- that integrity and excellence are at the core of all we do.
We believe that people do their best when they feel the pride in their contribution … when they are treated with dignity … and when their talents are encouraged to flourish in an environment that encourages diversity.
At UPS, I’m proud to say, ours is not a new-found philosophy.
I’d like to cite another gentleman I greatly admire. I spoke of him earlier . . . Jim Casey. He was a precocious teenager when he started the company in 1907.
In 1967 – 60 years after he launched UPS – and after many changes in strategy and purpose – Jim told us that "our oneness gives definite, forceful meaning to the words ‘our company.’ When you hear and speak those words, you know they include yourself. Add now the element that binds us together – complete confidence in the integrity of each other – and you have part of the reason why we are widely regarded as a unique institution."
Ladies and gentlemen, that idea of diversity … of inclusion … of oneness … is a cultural attribute that also represents an enormous strategic advantage for us at UPS … and for any organization.
When you align a diversity of people and experiences behind a solid vision … you can indeed move mountains.
And for those of us in business today, many of the challenges before us are akin to moving mountains.
At the same time, the opportunities for business … for our global society … for advancing freedom … and economic empowerment … have never been greater.
Consider the tectonic shifts we’re seeing around the world with:
Greater regional economic integration … and the growth of democracy. In 1950 there were 22 democratic states. Today, there are 120 free nations around the world.
Think about the growing influence of a global middle class. In India and China alone, over 300 million people have migrated from poverty to the middle class in the past 20 years.
A rising global middle class also gives rise to larger urban populations … more mobility … and greater consumer power..
With more people and businesses on the move ... we’ve also seen an explosion in the flows of goods, information and funds around the world.
In 1970, foreign exchange transactions totaled about $10 billion dollars a day. Today, $10 billion-dollars-worth of foreign exchange transactions occur every second.
Despite the tragic events of the past year, the world is growing global. It’s growing closer. Its diverse cultures aligned behind the notion that we all share a collective destiny.
Yes, the world is changing. I’ve felt it. The company I work for has felt it. I’m sure everyone in this room has felt the changes.
But one thing that must never change are those bedrock values instilled in people like Judge Higgenbotham … and Jim Casey … and in organizations like the Lawyers’ Committee and UPS.
The value of doing what’s right … not what’s easy.
The value of when we say we’re going to do something … we do it.
And the value of taking our jobs … our families and … our communities seriously … but never ourselves.
Thank you again for this tremendous honor. This has been quite an evening.
