Learning is the foundation for success, and I owe a lot to my education at Lehigh University. The process of continuous learning is instrumental in not just how you conduct yourself, but how you view the world. Learning implies that you need to know more. That is the impetus for me.

As a lifelong learner and a business entrepreneur, I believe that education is really the driver for innovation. For example, take the development of automation that made the world a better place, the Internet revolution, or navigating advances in digital transformation. They all stemmed from people who had an appetite for learning and a great drive for success.

Classroom education with theoretical concepts is important, but we need to embrace learning from real-world applications that provide examples of how to be more effective and efficient. The true promise of continual learning lies in the potential of how it will shape our thinking and create life and business opportunities that have not been developed.

I firmly believe that it is ongoing education that really spurs and brings out the best out in professionals. This is why I feel so strongly about supporting Lehigh’s educational mission, especially the development of the university’s executive education program. Exploring practical research and live case studies will open up new insights into issues and opportunities facing today’s global organizations.

I recently committed a $5 million gift to elevate executive education at Lehigh’s College of Business and Economics. This gift endows and names the new Vistex Institute for Executive Learning and Research and allows the university to move forward with an ambitious plan to strengthen engagements with industry and business.