President Jaime Taylor speaks at College of Business Distinguished Speakers Series

Lamar University’s College of Business hosted its latest Distinguished Speakers Series event on Tuesday, March 25, welcoming Dr. Jaime Taylor, president of Lamar University. Dr. Taylor shared his insights on leadership with students, faculty, and staff. 

Dr. Taylor reflected on the impact of leadership, teamwork, and vision in driving both personal success and institutional growth. He emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for students to achieve success, particularly for first-generation college students.

“When I came to Lamar, I asked myself, ‘What is it that's going to drive Lamar? What can we be the best in the world at?’” Dr. Taylor said. “I was fortunate enough to be here during our centennial celebration, where I had the chance to talk to many of our alumni and members of the community. You’d be stunned by the number of first-generation alumni who are now self-made billionaires. These individuals came here just like all of you, and they did it on their own.”

Dr. Taylor also stressed the importance of teamwork in achieving organizational goals, describing how collaboration among team members can be transformative. He pointed to the success his leadership team has experienced in accelerating Lamar University’s growth.

“Teamwork is a force multiplier,” Dr. Taylor said. “When you get people working together, it’s not just additive, it’s multiplicative. In just two years, we didn’t just double our achievements; we quadrupled them. This kind of success is possible when everyone is aligned toward the same goals, but it’s not easy. The hardest thing you’ll do is get people to stop complaining about others and start working together.”

During his presentation, Dr. Taylor also shared how he helped bring Dr. Joby John, a highly regarded leader, to Lamar University.

“I was excited to be here at Lamar, and I called my colleague at Marshall University, who’s the provost, to recommend Dr. John for a position here,” Dr. Taylor recalled. “He told me, ‘If there’s anything you can do to get him to Lamar, do it—he’s incredibly well-known in the community, well-liked, and has a great reputation.’”

Following the presentation, students had the opportunity to participate in an engaging Q&A session. They asked Dr. Taylor about leadership, personal growth, and his vision for Lamar University’s future, gaining valuable insights into his leadership philosophy.

The College of Business’s Distinguished Speakers Series is an ongoing initiative aimed at providing students with the chance to hear from influential leaders in business, education, and beyond. It offers valuable lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.

To learn more about the College of Business, visit https://www.lamar.edu/business/index.html