Petit remains active, both professionally defined administrative skills as "keeping occurred as I made three attempts to run and philanthropically, in the Atlanta area. bad things from happening." As I for archon. I finally was elected on the In 2011, he was awarded the Lifetime mentioned, both of those functions are third try as a senior. In that process, I Achievement Award for Atlanta Business needed in a well-managed organization. learned a little bit about politics. Chronicle's 2011 Health-Care Heroes Awards. I think I have been blessed with being Finally, in my later years, the most Recently, the STAR & LAMP was able to reasonably balanced with both leadership meaningful experience was when Mark sit down with Pete to ask him about his Pi and administrative skills. I believe that Timmes and Durward Owen recently Kappa Phi experience, leadership and more. administrative skills can be taught, came to visit me to tell me that I had been If you had the opportunity to start but leadership skills are generally a selected as Mr. Pi Kappa Phi. This caught personality trait that is in a person's DNA. me by total surprise, and I am extremely your collegiate career over again from scratch, is there anything you'd do As I started my first business, I had grateful and flattered by the award. differently? If so, why? already been managing projects in the Between all of the undergraduate and aerospace industry SO I had some basis for alumni members of Pi Kappa Phi, there I do not believe there is anything I would understanding these principles. However, as have done differently or could have done are brothers that span so many different I became an entrepreneur, it became quite differently. I was fortunate to be able to evident that my leadership skills had to be "ages and stages" of life. What have you attend Georgia Tech on the cooperative perfected. As my organization grew, then the learned about brotherhood, and also program where I went to school a quarter administrative skills became as important. leadership, that could apply to all of and worked a quarter. If I had not had my those men, no matter their stage of life? co-op job, I could not have attended college. At my current point in life, I understand clearly the importance of management What I have learned about brotherhood It was a rapidly maturing phase of my and the leadership and administrative and leadership can be summarized in life because of the disciplines I had to components in getting almost anything one word: "integrity." When you become learn quickly both with study habits and done in an organizational environment. my age, you have had an opportunity to work habits. see many instances of integrity versus What are some of the most important I had to save $550 in my work quarter dishonesty. That has come through pieces of advice you've received in your life? numerous individuals and situations in order to get through my next school quarter. That required extreme financial As I recall, my father continually in your life. The conclusion is that real discipline, but it became a practical routine. emphasized to me to "seek advice." Over success through leadership comes to the years, I have learned to ask many those with integrity. These are individuals At Georgia Tech, I had to put in long questions to experienced individuals. For who can be honest with themselves and hours studying SO I had to learn time making any important decisions, I have everyone else. They take honesty and management. I learned to multi-task and always sought counsel. However, I am a integrity very seriously in their lives. not waste time on frivolous matters. I had decisive person and it does not take me a reasonably active social life although Unfortunately, I believe our country has long to make a decision and act on it. become accustomed to misinformation it was much more limited than what However, I think the key is to understand students have today. and lack of integrity coming from people that there are always people who have in positions of power. I have seen too As an alumnus, you've clearly been a experiences that you do not have, and it is many instances over the last number of leader for Pi Kappa Phi. How has the important to draw on them. years where individuals feel that if people concept of leadership changed for you What have been two or three of your most in power can behave in that way, it must over the years? be a new standard for America. This is meaningful Pi Kappa Phi experiences? very unfortunate. I believe that leadership is a component My first and most meaningful of management. I learned decades ago I remember posters in my grammar experience at Pi Kappa Phi was when to characterize management as having I met Durward Owen for the first time. schools of George Washington cutting two components. There is the leadership down a cherry tree and saying "I cannot He came to the Iota Chapter house at component and the administrative tell a lie. I cut down the cherry tree." Some Georgia Tech for a brief meeting in component. Often, strong abilities with of our politicians today grew up in a later December of 1959. He had just been both are not found in the same person. appointed as the Executive Director, and period, and they didn't get that message However, an organization needs both he was visiting many of the chapters. We about the importance of integrity. components to be effectively managed. An had a problem because our house had just effective manager either has both abilities been condemned by the city of Atlanta or must surround themselves with people as being unfit for human occupancy. that will fill in with one of the other Durward's leadership came through that Read from more mentors online. abilities that they are missing. afternoon, and when he left the house, we I have always defined leadership as all felt much better about our future. STARANDLAMP.COM "making good things happen." I have My second most meaningful experience UPDATE US ON YOUR LIFE: PIKAPP.ORG/SUBMITNEWS 31