Sprint CEO, Army brat speaks on post

By Mrs. Melissa K Buckley (Leonard Wood)July 17, 2014

Sprint CEO, Army brat speaks on post
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Sprint Corporation chief executive officer Dan Hesse spoke July 8 on "Leading an Organization Through Change" at Fort Leonard Wood.

Hesse's address was part of the U.S. Army Engineer School regimental guest speaker program.

"Being here is like coming home again. I am a proud military brat. My dad spent 30 years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers," Hesse said.

He said he has been in the telecom industry for 37 years. Prior to becoming the chief executive officer of Sprint in December 2007, he was chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Embarq Corporation.

"I have had diverse experiences within telecom. I had the opportunity to leave the industry, but I chose to stay," Hesse said.

Hesse said he asks his Sprint employees to focus on three priorities -- improving the customer experience, building the Sprint brand and generating cash.

Hesse has a business card printed with those priorities that he hands out to his employees. On the back of the card are the 10 Sprint imperatives. They are: do it now, delegate and empower, be accountable, focus on customers, demonstrate teamwork and camaraderie, compete like winners, develop, innovate, act with integrity and have fun.

Hesse also revealed his formula for success.

He said he has noticed that most of the successful people he has met really know their professions and are genuinely passionate about their jobs.

Hesse encouraged the troops to seek out mentors.

"There are so many great opportunities for mentorship, and there are so many different leadership styles," Hesse said. "I've tried to pattern myself after a couple of my mentors."

Capt. Carl Estenik, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, doctrine technical writer, came to hear Hesse speak, because he is retiring this fall and might end up working for a civilian company.

"So many military people are getting out. I am already looking for job opportunities. It's good to have a plan," Estenik said.

Estenik's 15-year-old son, Patch, joined his dad for the lecture.

"I want my son to be exposed to successful people in the world, not just military leaders," Estenik said. "It was a great opportunity for him."

Patch said he doesn't want to work with technology like Hesse, he wants to be a policeman, but he came to hear Hesse speak about his experiences, since he grew up as a military child.

"It was really interesting. It was cool to listen to another Army brat speak. He gained a lot of knowledge from living all over the world," Patch said. "Today, I learned that it takes a lot to have a successful company. You have to work with your employees, cooperate with them and use their ideas."

The next guest speaker is scheduled to be from Doctors Without Borders sometime this fall.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood