Richard G. Capen

He provides practical advice on setting a values-based course for your company. Drawing on his experience in the newspaper publishing industry, as U.S. ambassador, and as assistant secretary of Defense, Capen outlines the action steps and key personal values necessary for business success in the years ahead. He understands that knowing what tomorrow's workers will demand in the way of key corporate values will be critical to the success of every American business. His particular focus is on what to expect from the young generation moving into the workforce.
Using his own experiences, Dick Capen provides useful advice to business and public leaders on how to balance careers and personal lives. He uses relevant examples of how other leaders have established their own values-driven approach and, in the process, offers encouragement and inspiration to those seeking to become more effective managers and leaders.

His topics are featured in his book Finish Strong / Living the Values that Take You the Distance (HarperSanFrancisco and Zondervan). Each personal value is supported by research involving well known leaders in business and public life. The book is now in its second printing, with two paperback editions to be released this summer.

Dick Capen challenges his audiences to address key personal values from a practical, leadership-driven perspective. His themes include:

Commitment: Every leader needs a strong moral compass driven by commitment to key Personal Values that are never compromised. The speaker helps set that path

Self-Renewal/Dealing with Change: This speaker focuses on what to expect from business leaders when it comes to careers, balanced by personal and family priorities. He also deals with the priorities to expect from the under-30 generation coming into the work force.

Anchoring Your Life to Higher Ground: Key surveys in America point repeatedly to the restoration of morality and character as key issues today. Audiences are challenged to realize that this renewal process must start one person, one community, one family at a time.

Optimism: Everything in life is attitude. The power of optimism in leadership is often far more important than talent. It is essential to dealing with crisis, change, and ways to lead a full life. The speaker describes how to get there.

Diversity: Dick Capen led his newspaper through an enormous shift in its market which had changed from 25% to over 55% Hispanic in slightly more than a decade. He saw diversity as a huge asset to his newspaper and forced fundamental changes in the culture and policies of his organization to meet the opportunities he saw from dramatically changing demographics. Most businesses in America face similar challenges and opportunities.

Volunteerism: Volunteerism is no longer voluntary. The speaker challenges business and individuals on practical ways in which companies and their employees can become involved long term.

Perseverance: Too many expect easy answers with little prolonged commitment to get them. Dick Capen sees the need for clearly-defined goals and the passion to persevere in achieving them. He uses inspiring stories to illustrate ways in which leaders have persevered against huge odds to achieve important results.