Dell CEO Tells Graduates to Dream Big, Maintain Balance

PROVO, Utah — May 03, 2006 — It is not everyday students hear from someone whose life surpassed their dreams. Dell CEO Kevin Rollins spoke to Marriott School graduates encouraging them to dream big and live even bigger at Friday’s convocation.

Rollins, the keynote speaker, told students that in addition to dreaming big they should work hard, give back and maintain balance. “It’s surprising how much you can get done if you don’t worry about who gets the credit,” Rollins suggested, sharing examples from his own experience at Dell.

“One of our senior team members, who could obviously be very jealous about the notoriety and recognition Michael Dell gets, calls our management team “the no name management team” because no one really knows the names of the great senior managers that make our company work,” Rollins explained. “They realize being part of a great team is more important than trying to build their own names and brands.”

Rollins encouraged the nearly 900 business school graduates to become great leaders and to strive to create an aristocracy of merit and virtue through hard work and compassion towards others. He said doing so involves giving back to schools, communities and other worthy causes. Rollins also teaches by example — giving generously of his time and financial resources to help found BYU’s e-business center.

“Kevin has been a wonderful friend to the Marriott School for many years,” says Dean Ned C. Hill. “Not only is he a graduate of our MBA program, he’s also a member of our national advisory council. We are grateful for his wonderful support and leadership in that area. Kevin is a great example of how to live one’s life.”

Rollins said looking back at his career he would have never imagined being where he is today. He urged students to push themselves to be better and do more than they currently think is possible and said they will experience, as he did, results beyond their greatest dreams.

“You do not realize all that you can be at this point in your life,” Rollins said. “There is a grand plan for each of us. Each of us was created to succeed and have the potential for greatness built into our spiritual DNA.”

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems, organizational behavior and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.