Leadership in Action – Students grill Brad Ludden of First Descents

Having just finished Parents’ Weekend, our students returned to “normal” classes today on campus.  For our Capstone Leadership Course, this involved our students having a Google Hangout with Brad Ludden, Founder of First Descents, a nonprofit organizations that provides opportunities to young adult cancer survivors to regain their lives after battling the disease.  First Descents’ programs include kayaking, surfing, and climbing programs all over the world, and this energetic nonprofit was started by Brad when he was just 18 and traveling the world as a professional kayaker.

Currently, in our Capstone Leadership Course, our students are using the 10 Elements of Leadership (which they studied in our last academic expedition) to profile leaders.  We relish the opportunity to introduce them to leaders like Brad who are actively trying to make the world a better place through a passion.  The Alzar School students researched First Descents prior to this conversation, so they could ask Brad pointed questions that would help them learn from his experiences.  Throughout the rest of the “Profiles of Leaders” expedition, our students will continue to absorb leadership lessons from contemporary and historic leaders.

Enjoy the conversation!  Brad fields our students’ questions and offers some great insights into what has made First Descents successful and how he has evolved as a leader.  Half of our students had the chance to interview Brad before lunch, and this is the second session that we were able to record after lunch.  Big thanks to Brad for making so much time for us in his day.