NBOA President and CEO
As we rush ahead into the new school year, or ease into it as the case may be, one piece of news is sticking with me for sentimental reasons — that of Dolly Parton’s passing at the age of 80 and her almost universal appeal.
I personally fell in love with Dolly when I was 14 years old and she was beginning her movie career. My love for her music followed suit. I recently spoke with my 91-year-old mother who recalled, with deep fondness, seeing her perform live in Atlantic City at Resorts International, and I’m so grateful for my parents’ indulgence of my young fandom. They made that possible and created an indelible memory of my youth.
As we reflect on Dolly’s life and contributions, I’m so pleased that she’s being recognized as a smart and savvy businesswoman who accomplished great success and gave so much back to her community, and all of us, with grace, generosity and humor. Regardless of her place in the entertainment zeitgeist, it’s clear how much work she put into caring for those around her and particularly for early learners, through her Imagination Library, which distributed books free of charge to the very young around the U.S. Inspired by her father, who was illiterate, Dolly knew the value of education, reading and learning, and used the captivating force of her celebrity and the power of her purse to share that value with children.
All this is why when I stumbled upon the recent Forbes article “Dolly Parton’s 10 Leadership Lessons for Business Executives,” I could not resist making it the focus of this week’s CEO Notebook. The piece focuses on for-profit businesses, but my thoughts here aim to adapt the takeaways to your world, the independent school business office. On a sidenote for my accounting friends, I only counted five tips in this article – if you find the other five drop me a line!
Here are a few ways Parton’s entrepreneurialism operated that may be helpful to us as we lead finance and operations in our schools in the school year ahead:
1. Be distinctive.
Parton carefully crafted her on-stage image to connect with fans while also conducting her business with a steadfast hand. She wasn’t afraid to be herself, and it didn’t interfere with her financial success. I love this takeaway for independent schools because offering programs that are driven by a distinct mission exclusive to your school and also aligned with market needs is key to every school’s value proposition.
2. Stay true to your values.
Parton knew her personal value. For example, when Elvis Presley wanted partial rights to her song, “I Will Always Love You,” she stuck to her guns and did not sign any part of them away. Can you even imagine saying “no” to Elvis? She did so because staying true to her values was more important than a potentially lucrative deal. With Whitney Houston’s magnificent version of her song still ringing in our ears, we know how well that decision paid off. For school leaders, it’s critical to center your mission in every discussion and decision, and to adhere to those values in all your financial decision-making, programmatic choices and strategy.
3. Rely on experts.
Parton ran a business empire so large that there was no way she could understand every detail in it much less run every piece of it herself. Sound familiar? She had to rely on trusted advisors who had the same core values in place. Likewise, as an independent school business leader, you don’t need to have all the answers at every turn.
That is in fact why NBOA was formed – the founders understood there was no way to be an expert on everything in a business officer’s portfolio or to do the job effectively alone. Business leaders need to connect across schools to grasp the many, many areas of school finance and operations and do them well. Lean on your professional community in NBOA, including business partners, and tap the expertise within your national network.
4. Use your power to help others.
Much has been written about the extensive philanthropy Parton conducted, through disaster relief, conservation, health advocacy and so much more. I appreciate this because it reminds school business leaders that we can have an impact on our larger community in so many ways. This includes providing auxiliary programs that draw in local students from other schools, renting facilities responsibly to provide additional community access and financial aid to support students who otherwise would not be able to afford your school.
5. There are different ways to measure success.
Parton created a legacy that will far outlive her and be remembered alongside her music library. It goes without saying that independent schools need to operate in a financially sustainable way, but success is largely determined by your school’s ability to advance the mission and ensure that mission is available to future generations. It’s not just numbers in, numbers out, but the impact your school’s program has on students, families and community in perpetuity.
I hope Dolly’s business-savvy and contributions outside of entertainment are inspirational as we enter a new academic year with clear values and connections that will make our work more meaningful and impactful in the year ahead. I never thought my affection for Dolly would intersect with my professional life. But one thing I never doubted is that I will always love her!
Jeffrey Shields, FASAE, CAE
NBOA President and CEO
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