Lessons in Leadership: Integrating Courage, Vision, and Innovation for the Future of Sustainable Fisheries

Foreword

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874608.fmatter

Kirk Cousins, an outstanding quarterback at Michigan State University (MSU), led the Spartans to their first ever Big Ten Football Championship Game in 2011 and is currently the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. Kirk is highly regarded for his exemplary leadership and success on the football field and for his dedication to making a difference in his local community. After graduating from Michigan State in 2012, he was drafted by the Washington Redskins where he became the starting quarterback in 2015. In 2018, Kirk signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings and has been their quarterback since. Kirk attributes much of his success, both on and off the football field, to his strong Christian faith. In recognition of his many accomplishments, MSU awarded Kirk an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree in 2019 and invited him to give a speech at that graduation ceremony. In his speech, Kirk shared life advice with the graduating class that he referred to as “truths of life learned at MSU.” We thought that his advice really applies to anyone thinking about jumping into leadership roles, so with his permission, we have adapted his speech to MSU graduates and share it here to encourage you to become a leader in making this world a better place for all.