Get to know Sam

1. What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

   The best piece of professional advice I ever received is that we can only see so far by standing on the shoulders of giants. In other words, progress is only possible through teamwork—whether it’s collaborating with those on your team or building on the ideas of those who came before you. Without learning from and working with others, we don’t see as far as we otherwise could.

2. Who or what inspires you?

   I take a great deal of inspiration from the service members who have served our country, and in particular, a man named Major Dick Winters, who served with Easy Company in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. To me, when I think of the word “leader,” he is the first person who comes to mind. He was a man who understood his role as a leader perfectly and led his troops to many crucial victories through great adversity during the war, as did many others. We have much in our lives today to be thankful for—freedoms and opportunities that these service members fought and died for—and that is something I try to be grateful for regularly. I am thankful for the lessons Major Winters left behind for us to learn, and I recommend that anyone watch his interviews online or read about his and Easy Company’s exploits during the war. To me, he is the example of a truly effective and humble leader, someone everyone should aspire to emulate in their own lives, no matter what career path they pursue.

3. What’s your favorite hobby or pastime?

   Playing sports. I love to play most sports, but I particularly love playing both hockey and soccer, and I hope to continue playing them until my doctors tell me to stop in my old age!