“Great leaders don’t succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others.” I think this quote attributed to Jon Gordon is spot on. I have had aspirations for many years to be a great leader. Whether or not I have had any success really lies in what I can do to train, inspire and teach others to be amazing leaders.
When we recently welcomed Cohort 2 of Texas Trailblazers, I had the privilege—for the first time—of seeing these incredible students all together in one room, each of whom I look forward to getting to know and working with on their leadership journey this fall.
We were overwhelmed by the number of qualified applicants this year. The selection process for the 40 spots in the next class was rigorous, time-consuming and demanding, but the results are nothing short of extraordinary.
We have assembled students from almost every college and program at the University of Texas to embark on a journey of leadership. They each had to compete for a position in the “40 on the 40 Acres,” with a long list of bright, enthusiastic and driven student leaders. My goal is to give them the opportunity to collaborate on signature Capstone projects that benefit UT and the world beyond. They will share meaningful experiences, learn from nationally recognized leaders and engage in our Trailblazers curriculum to help shape their futures.
Will Florer, an outstanding UT grad in his own right, stepped up a year ago to oversee the Texas Trailblazers. His guidance, grit and friendship have made this journey such a joy for me, and the others he connects with to pull us all forward.
I truly appreciate the support of President Jim Davis and the Center for Leadership and Ethics at the McCombs School of Business. Although we select students from across UT campus, our program is based at McCombs. We are grateful for their tireless efforts to help elevate this program into one of the University’s top organizations.
Each of our graduating seniors from Cohort 1 are incredible and noteworthy. Their opportunities for leadership when they leave UT are apparent and we will follow them and cheer them on. Congratulations to our class of 2026.
When all is said and done, I hope they might one day say of me—and the Gay Gaddis Leadership Program—that she pursued excellence as a path to serve others.
We need leaders everywhere we turn. And if even one of our students goes on to change the world, every bit of this effort will have been worth it.
Blazing trails,
Gay Gaddis
Founder. Author. Artist. Trailblazer.
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