Lessons from Leonard Lauder

This week, the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center - The Wharton School - US at The Wharton School presented Leonard Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. , with the Retail Excellence Award. I was honored to give remarks and stand as a proxy for all the people whose horizons were widened, and lives transformed, by their time at the company and inspired by Leonard.

There are so many lessons I could have shared with ways that Leonard influenced me but, in the time I was permitted, I chose three:

1. Go the Extra Mile.  That’s not a figure of speech; It’s Leonard’s way of life. For my final interview at The Estée Lauder Companies, Leonard and I had afternoon tea at The Pierre Hotel. We talked long and lost track of time. When we finally checked our watches, we found we needed to hurry home to our loved ones for dinner. As we exited the lobby and stood on the Fifth Avenue sidewalk, Leonard offered me a ride in his car.  I thanked him, but declined, because I lived all the way downtown and his apartment was just six blocks north from where we stood. Still, he insisted. As we got in the car, I said that we should drop him first as his home was so close. No way. Leonard rode with me all the way downtown to my place and then all the way back uptown to his apartment. The man went far out of his way, as he always does, showing his incredible concern for others. Leonard teaches us to go the extra mile.                
2. Be a true New Yorker. I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. Like many kids around the world, I dreamed of moving to and making my life in magnificent New York City. It was a motivating passion. I had to get here. But I couldn’t have told you exactly why.Leonard colored in those lines for me. Walking in Central Park, touring museums, visiting the high-end stores along Fifth Avenue, lunching at Michael’s and taking me by the hand to meet the beauty editors, he was my example. He showed me the value of culture and philanthropy, and the importance of always remaining curious. As our great city—and indeed the world— struggles with housing shortages, a migrant crisis, and an uphill battle to get people back to work in our offices, let’s let Leonard’s passion for doing good spur us to action.
3. Business can be—must be—a deeply humane pursuit. Before the business strategists started talking about purpose-driven work, Leonard lived it. He knew the power of being part of a company that felt like a family.I’ll never forget the first time Leonard called me “Darling.” At first, I was a little rattled. I’d never been referred to that way by my boss. Before long I came to understand that in every way, including language, this company was not a set of spread sheets or an obsession with profit margins. It was always about the people. Even for those of us with different last names, it felt like a family.

Leonard is one of several breakthrough communicators I highlight in my book, Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World. I’m curious, what have you learned from the leaders in your life? Share in the comments below.