The 300-level Commerce School class entitled "Leading with Compassion" hosted former Brazilian President Fernando Cardozo last night in the Rotunda Dome Room to exemplify the purpose of the course.
"Our goal in bringing Dr. Cardozo here was to give our class a real-life example of a leadership who uses compassion as a dictating force in his administration," said Alan Fortescue, a doctoral student in the Curry School as well as the course teaching assistant. "We want our students to be aware of those around them and to cultivate compassion and emotional awareness as it applies to business and business leadership. Dr. Cardozo really personifies everything we want our students to gain from this class."
The course is taught by Marga Odahowski, the director of studies at the International Residence College. The class consists of 25 students from the McIntire School of Commerce and 25 students from other majors and disciplines. The goal of the class, as described in the course syllabus, is for "students to explore and learn ways to create balance, build integrity and act from compassion in their roles as future business leaders in the for-profit and non-profit sectors."
"It is a very atypical class," fourth-year College student Heather Montgomery said. "We meditate before every class and are really learning new ways to view the world."
Cardozo was born in 1931 in Brazil and originally studied sociology. He eventually became a renowned sociology professor and wrote several important articles and books about Latin America.
Cardozo was president of Brazil for two terms, from 1994 until 2003.
He helped to reduce the hyperinflation in Brazil, reduce the infant mortality rate by 25 percent and double the number of college students within the country among other accomplishments.
The University was able to obtain Cardozo as a lecturer because he is a John W. Kluge Scholar. Kluge is a long-time philanthropist who gives frequently to the University.
Cardozo's focus in his lecture was to inspire all of the students in the room to chase their dreams.
He began his lecture with the question, "How can a normal person become president of his country, twice?"
Cardozo then talked about being exiled from his country by the dictatorship and, when he was allowed to return, being banned from teaching -- the one thing he truly loved in life.
These deterrents are what eventually motivated him to enter the political arena to change the dictatorship in his country.
Cardozo was elected senator in 1986 and then became Brazil's foreign minister before becoming president.
Cardozo currently lives in Brasilia with his wife and three children.
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