This past week, I lost someone who shaped nearly every chapter of my leadership journey. For 33 years, Harry Alvis was more than a mentor. He was a steady voice, a truth teller, and a source of wisdom that often surfaced long after our conversations ended. His passing leaves a real void, and I feel it in the quiet moments when I instinctively reach for guidance that is no longer there. Even in this loss, I am reminded of the incredible value great mentors bring into our lives and the responsibility we carry to offer the same to those following behind us.
Leadership is never a solo pursuit. None of us grows without someone investing their time, belief, experience, and patience into us. Harry did that for me. He gave perspective, not just answers. He pushed me toward what was right, not what was easy. And he modeled a standard of character I have carried with me throughout my career.
As I reflect on his influence, I also think about the many leaders I have had the privilege to mentor. Watching them grow, step into their own leadership, and create meaningful impact has been one of the great joys of my professional life. I am proud of every one of them. Their success is a reminder that mentorship multiplies. It extends far beyond any single conversation or season.
Moments like this remind us that mentorship should not end with us. The next generation needs someone to help them see their blind spots, navigate setbacks, and recognize potential they have not yet discovered. They need someone willing to walk with them.
Harry poured into me for more than three decades. The best way I can honor him is to pour into others with the same generosity and belief he offered so freely. That is how great leaders continue to live on, through the next generation they helped prepare.
