Speakers:
- Roger F. Nyhus, Founder & CEO, AMBO Strategy
- Former U.S. Ambassador to Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Length of Lesson: 90 minutes
- 10 minute warm-up
- 45 minute video
- 15-30 minute discussion
- Optional classroom activities:
- Build Your Personal Brand Statement
- Courage in Communication
Learning Objectives
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
- Explain how personal values help shape leadership, communication, and decision-making.
- Analyze the importance of authenticity and personal branding in professional success.
- Evaluate how trust and credibility are built through communication over time.
- Recognize the importance of critical thinking, writing, and adaptability in a rapidly changing media environment.
- Examine the ethical responsibilities of communicators when facing difficult or controversial issues.
- Reflect on how networking, mentorship, and embracing opportunities can influence career paths.
1. Pre-Video Warm-Up
Activity: “What Do You Stand For?”
Ask students to spend three minutes responding to the following prompt:
Imagine someone who has never met you asks a friend to describe you.
Write down:
- Three words you hope they would use.
- One value that is most important to you.
- One goal you hope people associate with you in the future.
Invite volunteers to share their responses.
Transition:
“Today’s keynote explores how successful leaders define themselves before the world defines them – and why understanding your values may be one of the most important career skills you can develop.”
2. Watch the Presentation
Teacher Note
Encourage students to listen for examples of:
- personal leadership
- authenticity
- resilience
- ethical decision-making
- trust
- personal branding
- career adaptability
- networking and mentorship
3. Post-Viewing Discussion Questions
1. Ambassador Nyhus repeatedly emphasized the importance of defining yourself before others define you. Why is this especially important in today’s digital world?
2. Roger used Rihanna as an example of someone who transformed influence into ownership and built a global brand beyond music. What lessons can students learn from her approach to personal branding?
3. The keynote stressed that trust is often more valuable than visibility. Why do you think trust has become such an important asset for leaders, organizations, and communicators?
4. Ambassador Nyhus encouraged students to say yes to opportunities that were not part of their original career plans. How can unexpected opportunities shape a person’s future?
5. Roger discussed speaking up for values, even when doing so involved personal or professional risk. What factors should someone consider before taking a public stand on an important issue?
6. Throughout the keynote, Roger described careers as evolving rather than following a straight path. Why might adaptability be one of the most valuable skills in today’s workforce?
7. The speaker argued that AI will become a common tool, but that critical thinking and strong writing will remain essential. Why are these human skills difficult for technology to replace?
8. Roger emphasized building relationships through networking and mentorship. How can students begin building meaningful professional relationships while still in high school or college?
9. Ambassador Nyhus described learning from mistakes, including a journalism error early in his career. Why can mistakes become valuable learning experiences for communicators?
10. If you could summarize the keynote in one piece of advice for someone entering college or the workforce, what would it be and why?
Optional Activity 1: Build Your Personal Brand Statement
Time: 15–20 minutes
Ask students to imagine they are applying for their dream internship five years from now.
Using ideas from the keynote, students create a one-paragraph personal brand statement that answers:
- What do I want to be known for?
- What values guide my decisions?
- What strengths make me unique?
- How do I hope to make a positive impact?
After writing, students pair up and provide constructive feedback on whether the statement feels authentic and memorable.
Optional Activity 2: Courage in Communication
Present students with the following scenario:
A student journalist uncovers accurate information about a school issue that may be unpopular with administrators but is important for the student body to know.
Working in small groups, students discuss:
- What ethical responsibilities does the student journalist have?
- What risks should be considered?
- How should facts be verified before publishing?
- What role does courage play in ethical communication?
- How can communicators balance honesty with professionalism?
Groups should explain the reasoning behind their decisions before sharing with the class.
Teacher Wrap-Up
Ask students to reflect:
What idea from Ambassador Nyhus’s keynote do you think will be most valuable throughout your life — not just your career?
Possible follow-up questions:
- How do your personal values influence your decisions?
- Why is trust earned rather than claimed?
- What opportunity could you say “yes” to this year that might help shape your future?
Key Takeaways
Students should leave understanding that:
- Personal values are the foundation of authentic leadership.
- Strong communication begins with understanding who you are and what you stand for.
- Trust is built through consistency, integrity, and credibility over time.
- Careers rarely follow a straight path; adaptability and curiosity often create new opportunities.
- Critical thinking, writing, and relationship-building remain essential skills despite advances in artificial intelligence.
- Meaningful success often comes from embracing opportunities, learning from mistakes, and remaining true to your principles.
Teacher Notes
Media Literacy Connections
Although this keynote is presented through the lens of diplomacy and leadership, it reinforces many foundational media literacy concepts.
Students should recognize that:
- Personal Branding: Individuals increasingly shape their own public narratives through communication and digital media.
- Credibility and Trust: Audiences evaluate communicators based not only on what they say but also on whether their actions consistently reflect their values.
- Critical Thinking: In an era of AI-generated content and information overload, evaluating evidence, asking thoughtful questions, and communicating clearly are increasingly valuable human skills.
- Authenticity: Effective communicators build trust by presenting themselves honestly and consistently rather than attempting to fit others’ expectations.
- Ethical Communication: Speaking truthfully, verifying information, and making principled decisions are essential responsibilities for journalists, communicators, and civic leaders.
This lesson encourages students to think critically about how communication shapes leadership, public trust, and personal identity while reinforcing the enduring importance of ethics, credibility, and thoughtful decision-making in a rapidly changing media landscape.