Pastor Stewart, Bill Way, and Coach Dillingham headline a powerful night of insight and connection.
Phoenix, Arizona-May 10, 2025: On May 7, 2025, an excellent cocktail and conversation networking event was hosted by the Arizona Board of Regents, Anita Lang, Jason Rose, and Jessica Pacheco at the San Tan Ford Club in Tempe, Ariona. It featured insightful talks from Pastor Warren Stewart, Bill Way and Kenny Dillingham with the aim of encouraging Arizona leaders to focus on resilience, grit and impact (i.e., leadership qualities desperately needed today).
The word “resilience” has become very popular since the pandemic. It has even been recognized as “Word of the Year” on occasion. There are many definitions; but, in general, it means ability to recover. The state of Arizona was one of the hardest impacted by the economic downturn accompanying COVID-19. But due to a great climate, population growth, its attraction for technological innovations, capability for growth in manufacturing and other assets, Arizona has been bouncing back. But there are still challenges in education, civility, morale and other sociological issues challenging business and community leaders.
During this third edition of the Regents’ Idea Salon series, Ms. Pacheo, Chief of the Board, asked the three accomplished panelists to discuss occasions during their life when they suffered failures and what it took, what actions they used (or are still using) to recover mentally, emotionally, or operationally.
Stewart, Head Pastor of First Institutional Baptist Church, was the best known of the panelist, having been a religious leader and community icon for over 45 years. Many know about the strong role he played in civil rights and in the ultimate of passage of the MLK holiday in Arizona. But he discussed what many do not know about his criminal path as a youth, that he accepted Christ at 16, about his initial reluctance to lead the civil rights movement in Phoenix, and how he has learned that while God comes first, it was a mistake to put work (in his case church, but it could apply to any profession) second, ahead of family.
Dillingham’s success (ASU’s football victories during March Madness) had given Arizona sports fans one of their few moments of joy the past year. His discussions focused on how he and his philosophies have overcome the skepticism that he faced as the youngest head coach in college football. He credits his father (military) and mother (community leader) with being his best role models. Recommendations he gave to the audience centered on perseverance, honesty, building trust through consistent communication and addressing problems
immediately. His examples included being the only coach having truthful one-on-on meetings twice a year with every player and having learned not to wait to make obvious and needed staff changes.
While Bill Way is known as a movie producer, he described himself as having an “attention surplus.” He described how he has preserved trying out everything he has been curious about from rowing to Iron Man events. He stressed that you must deliver, that charisma might get you in the door, but it takes hard work and perseverance to succeed. He cited that lesson he had learned in filmmaking, that even a great idea and cast of actors does not ensure the timely release or financial success of a movie.
All the speakers stressed that leaders need to show/share their emotions, maintain and demonstrate their passion and, sometimes, let others win or fail with their own ideas rather than always insist yours is the only answer or way.
The audience, which consisted of already successful innovators, creators and builders, was attentive, inspired by new ideas on how to overcome extraordinary odds, and encouraged by the panel and the networking that occurred in the room before and after. The Idea Salon achieved its intent.
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