Some say leaders are born and others believe that leaders are made, but in my short thirty-one years on this Earth, I’ve come to realize that there is a bit of truth on both sides. We often point to the intangibles that charismatic leaders exude almost as naturally as they breathe, but the real test comes in moments of adversity where their true character is tested. What happens when eloquent words and pep talks can’t cover for you?
Thankfully for us, there are people like Will Everett, who know how to motivate with sharpened oratory skills and respond when situations get dire. I met Will a little over two years ago as I was serving as the Communications Director for the DFW Chapter of the Morehouse College Alumni Association. We were in the midst of re-elections and I was looking for talented men who were committed to keeping our momentum going. Those who are familiar with Morehouse Men know we are all opinionated leaders in our own right, so leading a group of us can be… challenging, to say the least.
I campaigned to be Vice-President, and once elected I made sure to recruit Will to be a part of the executive board as he quickly developed a reputation as a dependable force in our ninety-member association, comprising of four generations. He immediately took on the role of Parliamentarian and the Vice-Chair of Communications, staying late with me on many occasions to knock out the by-laws, learn the various communication accounts, and go over the run-of-show for our annual events. Not only that he had just started a new role at Goldman Sachs and was on the cusp of starting his own non-profit.
High-capacity, solution-oriented, and focus were Will’s calling cards as he routinely did what was inconvenient but necessary to support our initiatives, and I often bounced ideas off of him on how we could innovate for the future.
Then COVID hit.
Like many organizations, we had to adjust on the fly as we were still tasked with creating awareness for historically black colleges and universities in a time where African-American males, in particular, needed it more than ever. In addition to this, I knew my time in Dallas was coming to a close as my business school applications all had California on them.
One by one I began reaching out to active members asking them if they were interested in taking the next step in leadership, and one by one I received respectful declines. Will had let me know that he was in a busy season, so the president and I went into our transition meeting not knowing who would take the reigns. Sure enough, the presidential seat sat noticeably unclaimed after all others were quickly voted on. The lack of enthusiasm was justified as there couldn’t have been a more unstable time to assume the role.
But then there was Will.
Sensing the need for decisiveness, Will stepped up and put his name in the hat despite having numerous obligations. Given his visibility and work ethic, he was unanimously voted president, and six months later he’s rallied the DFW Chapter to bring in the most dues to date, all while retaining member engagement and cohesiveness. Did I mention he’s assumed even more responsibility on his job and since become a chair on another non-profit board? When it comes to impact, grit, and execution many aren’t able and even then few are willing, so it was my pleasure reconnecting with a true brother who’s done great things but is dead set on doing so much more.
It is my hope that you listen to the gems he shares in our conversation because he is wise beyond his years. Gentlemen, I introduce to you Will Everett.
- David Pailin Jr.