General David Goldfein Meets with Hunt Business Student Leaders
by Hunt Business Staff
The Big Picture
Retired U.S. Air Force General David L. Goldfein met with Hunt Business student leaders during his visit to campus for the Miners Leadership Summit.
The conversation over lunch focused on leadership, service and decision-making under pressure.
What They Discussed
Students explored:
- Leading in high-stakes environments
- Navigating uncertainty
- Translating leadership principles across military and business contexts
- Building careers that bridge public service and industry
Goldfein emphasized humility, accountability and clarity of purpose — themes reflected in Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership, co-authored with UTEP President Heather Wilson.
Drawing from decades of experience leading at the highest levels of the U.S. Air Force, he encouraged students to ground their leadership in character, thoughtful decision-making and service to others.
Leadership Takeaways
On the Standard of Leadership
“Leadership is a lifelong question. Every day you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself, ‘Am I worthy of the trust placed in my care?’”
On Trust and Accountability
“You build trust over weeks, months and years. But you can lose it in a single day — sometimes with one bad decision.”
On Character
“Character is who you are when no one’s watching. If you focus on character, your reputation will take care of itself.”
On Decision-Making Under Pressure
“When I was young, I wanted to be known as decisive. Over time, I realized I’d rather be known for making good decisions. And that requires discipline.”
On Urgency vs. Importance
“As a leader, you have to ensure the urgent doesn’t overtake the important. Solving every crisis isn’t the same as moving the mission forward.”
On Owning Failure
“When we failed, we said so. Completely. Owning failure doesn’t eliminate consequences, but it restores credibility.”
