Tocqueville Fellow Blog by Lane Lytle: The Way to Lead: Lessons in Values from Two Furman Alumni
Lane Lytle ’27 is a Tocqueville Fellow at Furman University, majoring in Politics and International Affairs and Communication Studies.
Furman University was recently graced with the presence of a world sovereign, President Alexander Stubb, and the Director of the National Security Agency, General Joshua Rudd. While many wonderful stories were told about the President and General, one factor of their talks truly stood out to me, so much so that I would go as far as to say that it pierced through my heart and established something not often spoken about in the news today: hope. An event of this magnitude brought much of the student body and faculty together to sit and learn from these prominent alumni and hear how they approach international leadership. Both the President and General spoke about their values, the things that drive them, and how they govern, whether it be the nation of Finland or Cyber Command. While many of us can say we have certain values we aspire to, not many can say that they use their values to direct their leadership on the international stage.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and General Joshua Rudd answer questions from Furman students and faculty.
President Stubb’s Integrity on the World Stage
President Stubb’s values-based approach to international leadership, based upon his previous speeches and conversations at Furman, stems from his sense of integrity, duty, and fitness. During his tenure on the world stage, from being a member of the European Parliament to becoming President of Finland, President Stubb’s values-based approach has led him to consistently strive for the upholding of international laws and rules and support Ukraine in its fight for freedom against Putin’s Russia. Through his integrity, President Stubb refuses to back down from promoting the multilateral world that has been jeopardized in recent years by the rise of populism around the globe. President Stubb adamantly refuses to stand by and allow the world to slip back into the great-power conflicts seen during WWI and WWII.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb speaks about leadership, integrity, and duty.
Duty to Finland and the Discipline of Fitness
President Stubb shows great devotion toward promoting a multilateral world where smaller countries have a seat at the international table. This stems from his duty to his small nation of Finland. President Stubb is never shy about speaking on his duty toward his nation. His presidential inauguration speech can attest, “I promise to fight to ensure that Finland will remain a good country in the world for us Finns” (President Stubb in his inauguration speech 2024). President Stubb governs by his deep sense of duty to his people and the office he now holds, which leads us to fitness. Holding fitness as a value extends beyond physical exercise and helps facilitate and protect the other two values of President Stubb’s leadership. President Stubb described fitness in the holistic sense of the word, speaking on mental fitness as well as physical fitness. Keeping one’s mind and body sharp speaks to one’s integrity as one seeks to keep oneself in a position where one can fulfill one’s duty.
General Joshua Rudd discusses the role of faith, family, and fitness in his leadership.
General Rudd’s Faith, Family and Fitness
General Rudd is no different when it comes to self-governing and applying that discipline to his leadership style. I had the privilege of having dinner with General Rudd and his wife, and our conversation focused on his work ethic and what guides his leadership. General Rudd shared his three main values that define him as a person: faith, family, and fitness. General Rudd also elaborated on the value of “fitness.” Like the President, General Rudd emphasizes both mental and physical fitness as essential to his work ethic.
General Rudd discussed his journey to his current position, speaking about his early days at Furman and then diving training in the military, which is not something I think I could successfully complete. Besides speaking about his impressive academic and military career, what defined the evening were his conversations about his family and faith. General Rudd shared with us the story of how he and his wife met at Furman and how they kissed under the bell tower, supposedly a sure way for Furman couples to eventually get married. General Rudd also spoke about his two daughters and described fatherhood as one of the most defining parts of his life. Anchoring it all, he explained, is his faith, how it disciplines him and helps guide him in his day-to-day responsibilities at home and at Cyber Command. His wife attended my church here in Greenville, Buncombe Street Methodist Church. The General ended the dinner, and his talks at Furman, with another life-defining moment that required his values to direct his steps: 9/11. General Rudd spoke about the impact of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, how he watched television and saw the planes in New York City. It was this moment that emboldened him to continue his active service in the military. The General described how his wife reacted to his decision to reenlist. She simply told him to go, telling him that she knew he was needed.
Lane Lytle ’27 stands before a standing-room-only audience at the student and faculty Q&A with President Alexander Stubb and General Joshua Rudd.
The Way to Lead
Both men, these leaders, have faced different battles in their lives; they come from different parts of the world. However, their shared work ethic on the global stage speaks volumes to their respective characters. Knowing oneself, disciplining oneself, and then leading oneself and others takes great individuals. While we cannot say how these two leaders will be remembered in 100 years, their determination to be true to their values speaks through the ages as an admirable endeavor. Leading with values that bring out your most effective and overall best self should be on the minds of the leaders of the world today. These two Furman alumni giants truly show future generations the way to lead: lead true to who you are, not compromising your values when the situation is hard; that is when you will need them most. Meeting such inspirational leaders fills me with hope; hope for the future of international politics and the world at large. As someone who seeks to one day run for office and serve my country, I am proud to look to such esteemed alumni who show the proper way to lead.