Bestselling Leadership Author Jon Gordon Mentors and Encourages HPU Students

Jon Gordon, the 18-time bestselling author and consultant for top CEOs and sports teams, mentored High Point University students as HPU’s Positive Leadership and Performance Expert in Residence on Sept. 23. He spoke to hundreds of students inside the Callicutt Life Skills Theater during his visit to campus.

HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 26, 2025 – Jon Gordon, the 18-time bestselling author and consultant for top CEOs and sports teams, mentored High Point University students as HPU’s Positive Leadership and Performance Expert in Residence on Sept. 23.

While on campus, Gordon spoke to hundreds of HPU students about the power of positivity and led a training seminar with athletes, coaches and administrators. He also addressed dozens of recruiters before they met with students to discuss summer internships and jobs after graduation at HPU’s annual Life Skills Career Summit in the Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center.

Speaking to hundreds of students inside the Callicutt Life Skills Theater, Gordon stressed the value of building skills to develop positive relationships through four Cs: communication, connection, commitment and care.

“When there’s a void in communication, negativity will occur, so improving your communication as a positive leader is essential to developing relationships, building a great team or getting a great job and living a successful life,” he said. “Connection and spending time with each other builds trust. When you have that connection, then you have greater commitment because you care, you’re there for them and you go that extra mile.”

When leaders follow those four Cs, companies, family and friends can be challenged to be accountable and improve their lives, Gordon said. He shared that companies like Boeing, Campbell Soup and the WNBA transformed their cultures after they challenged their employees and let go of some pessimists in their organizations. On the other hand, he said HPU’s God, family and country values speak loudly and that HPU President Nido Qubein serves as one of the greatest examples of positive leadership.

Gordon’s message about positive communication resonated with Molly Niedzwiecki, a senior psychology major from Saratoga Springs, New York.

“Leading with a positive outlook is very important, and that’s something I’ve been trying to better myself in as far as communication,” Niedzwiecki said. “I tend to go into conversations feeling very negatively, and that’s something I’m trying to work on. I calm myself down, try to not look at what could be or what has happened, and have a positive goal within a conversation.”

Jake Guttman, a sophomore strategic communication major from Long Island, New York, also appreciated hearing Gordon speak about the power of positive communication.

“I know a lot of people who are living with negative thoughts every single day, and it really drains their energy. To be honest, being around them really drains my energy, too,” Guttman said. “I want to be able to call friends up to show them what kind of potential they have, encourage them to succeed, to thrive and help them along the way by communicating, connecting and showing that you’re committed and you care.”

Adam McKay, a freshman from Raleigh, North Carolina, said he learned from Gordon’s talk that it is important to maintain a relationship with a person after meeting for the first time.

“As he said, just try to make time once a day not only when the person is winning mentally or physically on the field, but also when they are in their lower moments,” McKay said. “He talked about how he reached out to the Clemson head football coach (Dabo Swinney) when they weren’t doing too well this year. He said it’s a lot more important to see them at their lowest and try to help build them up with positivity. That creates more lasting relationships because you’re there when they’re vulnerable and you can help coach them up.”

Faith Epperson, a sophomore business administration major from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, said the main thing Gordon taught her was about having a positive mindset.

“I’m someone who takes a lot of walks, and I constantly try to remind myself to be thankful or do a gratitude walk, like he said, so I will emphasize that even more,” she said. “Even though it’s a small adjustment, just looking around with a positive lens around you completely changes your mindset.”