More than 100 people gathered to hear Michael Crawford share his career story and give advice to students looking to work in international business Wednesday evening.
Crawford is currently the chairman of the board, president and CEO of the Hall of Fame Resort and Entertainment Company.
Crawford is also the author of the book “From the Mouse’s House to the Penthouse” and has previously worked as the global president of portfolio management for the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Company, the senior vice president of Shanghai Disney Resort and president of Shanghai’s Walt Disney Holdings Company.
“Don’t limit yourself based on your own expectations,” Crawford said. “Be open to change, be open to taking chances and having the courage to sometimes try something that may not make sense.”
Many individuals who attended the event were business students, such as Scott Gallagher, a sophomore business management major, who was interested in gaining more insight into the business world.
“I was interested in hearing his personal story on success and business,” Gallagher said. “I want to go into management in the future, and having some insight on what it takes or the road to get there, makes me feel better in my future career.”
MaKenna Carter, a sophomore accounting major, recently switched to the business college and was interested in hearing from someone highly experienced within the business world.
“I’m looking to get a better general understanding of the business world and everything he talked about was helpful,” Carter said. “It shows students that anything is possible if you work hard and put your mind to it.”
Katelyn Nguyen, a senior fashion merchandising major, recently worked in brand management and attended the event because she was intrigued to hear more about Crawford’s global experience in management.
“I felt very inspired after hearing him talk,” Nguyen said. “His story felt very close to home. He’s just a kid from Ohio who expanded himself and grew in such ways that are hard for a college student to imagine.”
Crawford offered students many pieces of advice throughout the lecture and advised students to take ownership of their career and stay humble.
“I resonated with the part where he talked about being humble,” Nguyen said. “That is something I try to live by everyday, so to hear that from someone so experienced and so successful shows me that it pays off.”
For Crawford, working internationally has allowed him to view the world with a more macro perspective. He realized that coming from the U.S., citizens tend to have a U.S.-centric view and do not tend to realize the impact they have on the world.
“It broadens the way you think about things and teaches you that there’s usually 15 sides to every problem that you’re looking at,” Crawford said. “It’s not as binary as you’re right, I’m wrong or I’m right, you’re wrong. Internationally, you have to learn that there is a depth to differences and you have to start to want to learn how to think about things in different ways versus the mentality of ‘I’m here to win.’”
Gallagher was grateful the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship was able to bring a speaker, such as Crawford, to Kent because it provides students with a great resource.
“Not everyone wants to go into international business, but he has great insight on what it takes and he has a great real life experience,” Gallagher said. “If you’re a business major, it can provide you with great details into what the real business world is like and what it takes to be successful.”
Crawford urges students to take advantage of the international opportunities college offers.
“Take advantage of those resources and be strategic in the companies you think are going to give you the best opportunity around the world.” Crawford said. “Be intellectually curious, don’t be judgemental. Be curious and appreciate the differences others have to offer, it’s going to make you a much better person.”
Adrianna Quinlan is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
