51视频

01/31/2022
By Ed Brennen

Cindi Bigelow 鈥渂arely remembers鈥� some of the courses she took in college. But as the president and CEO of family-owned Bigelow Tea, the nation鈥檚 leading specialty tea maker, she routinely relies on the discipline, work ethic and people skills that she developed as a student.

鈥淭here鈥檚 so much you can get from every class, even if you鈥檙e wondering, 鈥榃here am I going to use this later in life?鈥欌�� Bigelow told 51视频 students during a recent visit to campus. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e given an amazing opportunity here with all these classes in front of you.鈥�

Bigelow shared the leadership lessons she鈥檚 learned with close to 100 students, alumni, faculty and staff at University Crossing 鈥� and many more tuning in online for the livestream. The talk was co-sponsored by the Manning School of Business, the Donahue Center for Business Ethics, the and the student organization .

鈥淭hat was probably one of the best talks I鈥檝e ever listened to, and I鈥檝e been to plenty. She was so inspiring,鈥� said senior business major Kristen Reardon, a Joy Tong Women in Business member who moderated the discussion along with Assoc. Prof. of Management Erica Steckler, co-director of the Donahue Center.

In introducing Bigelow, Chancellor Jacquie Moloney noted that the company鈥檚 Mint Medley and Chamomile Mint teas have brought her 鈥済reat comfort鈥� during the past two-plus years of the pandemic.

Image by Ed Brennen

鈥淭here were a few sleepless nights, thinking and worrying about all of you,鈥� Moloney told students. 鈥淥ne of the things we forget about is self-care. Especially as women, we put others first, and the self-care goes last.鈥�

Moloney highlighted similarities between Bigelow Tea and UML 鈥� women-led organizations with strong commitments to sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion 鈥� and said the Fairfield, Connecticut-based company exemplifies 鈥渉ow a company can be greatly successful and also be great to their employees and their community.鈥�

Founded by Bigelow鈥檚 grandmother in 1945, Bigelow Tea produces over 2 billion tea bags a year and has 450 employees. As the third generation of her family to lead the company, Bigelow said it was a 鈥渂lessing鈥� that her father made her work her way up through the ranks for two decades in several different departments, starting with accounting.

鈥淚 had to work hard to become a leader. It wasn鈥檛 just because I had a name, 鈥楬ere you go, honey,鈥欌�� said Bigelow, who took the company reins in 2005.

Image by Ed Brennen

Asked what qualities the company looks for when hiring an employee, Bigelow started with selflessness and humility.

鈥淲e look for someone that鈥檚 trying to make the organization better, who puts mission over self, whatever the position. Those are the ones that are going to get ahead,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you bring out the best in the people around you, everyone wants to work with you.鈥�

Bigelow added that some leaders rely solely on their title to get others to follow them.

鈥淏ut that鈥檚 not a great way to live your life. People are going to want you to succeed if you鈥檙e taking them with you,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ake a difference, care about the person next to you, and do the right thing, even when no one鈥檚 looking.鈥�

Ellie Bancroft, a first-year business major from Georgetown, Massachusetts, left the talk feeling inspired.

鈥淒o the right thing and do it for the right reasons 鈥� I think that鈥檚 so important for students to hear,鈥� she said.