TED Speaker. Strategist. Change-Maker. Social Justice . Motivational Speaker. Leadership . Anti-racism. Immigrant Experience. Servant Leadership. Interfaith. Project Management. Healthcare.
It takes a community to eradicate hate
Standing up to discrimination and hate should be everyone's business, says community activist Wale Elegbede. In this vital talk, he shares how his community in La Crosse, Wisconsin came together to form an interfaith group in response to Islamophobia and racism -- and shows why a mentality of caring for your neighbors can make life better for everyone.
Distinguished Alumnus
University of Wisconsin La Crosse selects Wale Elegbede as named recipient of the Distinguished Rada Alumni Award. This award recognizes outstanding alumni who have achieved professional distinction and taken part in humanitarian activities in the last twenty years
Voices of Mayo: Wale Elegbede on standing together to end racism, lessons he’s learned
Voices of Mayo is a series that highlights Mayo staff and their stories, exploring their diverse backgrounds, the challenges they face, the opportunities they have been given, and their experiences at Mayo Clinic
As a young boy growing up in West Africa, I witnessed the appalling effects of prejudice and bias under autocratic rule. I was born in Nigeria during an era when military regimes gained power through coup d'etat. My father was a diplomat, and when my family moved to Togo, a neighboring West African country, I also observed the autocratic and domineering rule of President Gnassingbé Eyadema who ruled the small country for 38 years until his death. I saw how prejudice and bias influences decisions that marginalize certain groups over others and heard rhetoric from dictators that when left unchecked, led to ethnic and religious discrimination, riots and death.
A Servant Leader
Editor’s note: This is the sixth and final in a series of articles recognizing alumni receiving distinguished service awards later in September 2019.
Elegbede is a leader in strategy execution, cancer, community’s interfaith network
Wale Elegbede has had a successful career in numerous industries from consulting, information technology and systems, lumber, retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and healthcare. But it’s his work at Mayo Clinic with a novel cancer treatment called chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T-cell therapy) for adults with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has been the highlight and most fulfilling part of his career to date.
Viterbo University: Elegbede on a Servant Leadership Journey
Growing up in Nigeria and Togo, Wale Elegbede ’19 learned a lot from his father about leadership and being a good person. His father’s death when Elegbede was 13 was especially influential, instilling in him a drive, a sense that he should never put off important work.
“His death drove home that time is precious, so I want to do the best I can, when I can,” Elegbede said. “Do your best, leave the rest. That’s my motto.”
Let’s Go From Not My Business to Everyone’s Business!
I believe that discrimination plagues us because we have not made it our collective business. I believe that in order to rid of discrimination which includes racism, Islamophobia, and hate crimes, we need to go from a state of “not my business” to “everyone's business”. My belief is that this will help cultivate a shift in perspective, and result in a changed mindset that will build and sustain connection, empathy and elevate opportunities for everyone.
Historically speaking, anytime certain groups are targeted or scapegoated, we also see apathy. The holocaust, apartheid, genocide, internment camps, are examples where some members of society were targeted while others simply wanted to go about their daily lives, did not feel they could make a difference and in some cases, did not care how the targeting of others impacted them.
“Not my business” means you’re too busy worrying about your own stuff and not speaking or taking action to address society’s ill. It has nothing to do with what you feel inside, where your heart is or whether you’re sad. When I say “everyone’s business”, I am not referring to social policing where folks are policing interactions of others or vigilantism. “Everyone’s business” means letting people in your community know how these issues affect everyone in a constructive and positive way. It means we are in this together. We are our brothers and sisters keeper. We are one community together.
Word of inspiration, embedded in truth, from my personal and professional life…
Love, curiosity, and purpose fueled my journey as a first-generation immigrant to America, the shining city on the hill. Along the way, I have experienced death, pain, desperation, hopelessness and failure. I have also experienced love, family, mission, professional success, renewed purpose and community. My journey through hard work, smart work and team work, gave me opportunities across multiple industries at some of the world’s largest and highest ranked organizations. My journey also made me serve on important boards and become a community servant.
I would like you to share four things with you today. These are some of the things that have served me well and hope they help you as well.
Do your best… Leave the rest
Distinguished Alumni
University of Wisconsin La Crosse selects Wale Elegbede as named recipient of the Distinguished Rada Alumni Award. This award recognizes outstanding alumni who have achieved professional distinction and taken part in humanitarian activities in the last twenty years.
Commencement Speaker
Viterbo University named Wale Elegbede commencement speaker for the 2019 graduation ceremony. Wale shared words of wisdom and inspiration to the graduating class.
