Reggie Love

At the White House, high-pressure decisions are made daily involving staff, other branches of government, the corporate sector, and foreign countries. Love, Obama's one-time "gatekeeper," filters the behind-the-scenes drama and procedure to extract engaging (and customized) takeaways. Serious but self-deprecating, he doesn't just recount his amazing journey with the President; he takes a step back and makes vital connections to your organization.

Reggie Love offers a rousing call to students to shape both their future and the shared future of our nation--by actively participating in our democracy. Being informed and casting a vote are just the beginning. Drawing on his time at The White House, where he witnessed the power of the democratic process firsthand, Love debunks misconceptions about government and public life to help spur social change. With unbounded enthusiasm, he is sure to spark a non-partisan campus-wide discussion during this important election year.

Reggie Love has packed a tremendous amount of life into his 30 years. In this soaring yet humble talk, he shares the lessons that have grounded and guided him. Like most of us, Love is many things to many people. To President Obama, he was a tireless personal aide. To sports fans, he's the former captain of the Duke Basketball team. To others, he's the quiet guy working toward his MBA. Love sees himself as someone who has been graced with good luck. More important than having good luck, though, is being self-aware enough to recognize and harness it. Imploring us to make the most of opportunities, Love gently updates a classic inspirational talk about preparation and success.

Reggie Love is no stranger to leadership. From the competitive world of college sports to a front row seat at the White House, as President Obama’s former personal aide, Love has learned through trial, tribulation, and tumble that a great leader is someone who can lead even when others don't want to follow—especially when others don’t want to follow. Leadership, he explains in this keynote, is more truly measured during tough times. After all, anyone can lead when the going is good, or great! Love draws on his collegiate sports career and distills his years as Obama’s “body man”—where he spent more time with the President than perhaps anyone else—and offers his five P's of leadership: perspective, preparation, persistence, passion, and patience. Each point is a hallmark of a great leader, and each is backed by Love with vivid examples that he experienced firsthand, and which will make anyone a better leader.