Class of 1983 Alums help students move 'Big Rocks'

Woodward alumni Andy Cameron ’83 and Darrin Finley ’83 wanted to give something back to their alma mater. As accomplished leaders in their respective fields, they were both inspired by the concept of “Big Rocks” introduced in author Steven Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” They partnered with the Upper School, using the Big Rocks concept to teach students about leadership and making a positive impact.

“The heart of the Big Rocks concept is built on organizing your efforts and resources around the big things that matter,” Darrin said. “Having always been a Covey fan, a great deal of my consulting work included elements of his Big Rocks methodology. When Andy and I began discussing ways we could share our experiences and passion for student leadership development, using this simple, effective approach seemed to be a great way to get student leaders to strategically plan how they wanted to lead during the school year. Now in our third year, we have been able to build on those initial ‘Big Rocks’ and share with the students how their efforts are linked to Woodward’s overall strategic plan and how they make a difference.”

Andy and Darrin bring a deep well of knowledge and experience to their work with students. Now working remotely for American Express from his home in Fernandina Beach, Fla., Andy spent 25 years as an executive with the Coca-Cola Company, followed by four years with Nike at its headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Darrin, who lives in Jacksonville, Fla., began his career in the financial industry, working his way from intern to senior executive with the Federal Reserve and later as an executive at Citibank. He transitioned in 2004 to running his own consulting practice with a focus on transforming managers into leaders. Andy holds a B.S degree in Management Information Systems from Milligan College and an M.B.A. from Mercer University. After Woodward, Darrin attended Georgia Tech and received a B.S. degree in Industrial Management; he later earned an M.B.A. from Jacksonville University.

Andy and Darrin introduced the Big Rocks approach to students three years ago at the Institute for Ethical and Civic Engagement led by Jennifer Knox ’95, director of character education and the Ron M. Brill Chair of Ethical Leadership at Woodward. Students start by identifying Big Rocks that they would like to see moved or changed at the Academy.

“We then work with a self-identified group of students to prioritize three to five Big Rocks for the school year and support them as they lead the work,” Andy said. “Not only are the students leading change and leaving a legacy for future classes, but they also are learning leadership skills that will be valuable as they move through their careers and become the leaders and illuminators of the future.”

The Big Rocks cohort for 2023-24 included 20 students working in teams on projects in five areas of Upper School life: Learning Outside the Classroom (Alumni Connections), Well-being and Cultural Awareness, Student Transition, Service Promotion, and Student Voice. Some of their projects include connecting Upper School juniors with alumni for college and career guidance; promoting awareness of Woodward’s school psychologist; conducting a service-hour contest among classes (seniors won); and improving the experience of transitioning to the Upper School from eighth grade.

Kevin Stephens ’24 was honored with the first annual Big Rocks Award for students. “Kevin exemplifed the spirit of Big Rocks through his leadership, collaboration, engagement, and execution,” Andy said. “Kevin’s warm presence, dedication, and proactive approach to our collective work in the area of service learning promotion is evidence of his compassionate integrity.”

For both Andy and Darrin, Woodward set the stage for a fulfilling career and life beyond the Academy. “Woodward taught me how to learn and how to think for myself. More importantly, there was a group of dedicated faculty and administrators who challenged me but also saw more in me than I saw in myself,” Andy said.

“My Woodward journey laid a foundation for being well-rounded, well-versed in liberal arts and the more technical aspects of math and sciences,” Darrin said. “This balance contributed a great deal to my professional successes. Additionally, Woodward taught me how to collaborate with different people from different backgrounds.”

As alumni, they believe in passing on wisdom gained from experience to help shine a light on the path ahead for current Woodward students. “Like leadership, it’s about creatively finding ways for other people to excel in the pursuit of their goals and/or our common goals,” Darrin said. “It is also about subtly sharing your experience in a way that can lead to growth in others without being overly instructive or prescriptive.”

“For me, it is about using my experiences to give back and shine a light on the next generation of leaders,” Andy added. “The students we get to work with are so amazing. Not only are they smart and gifted, but more importantly they are willing to stand up and enter the arena to make a difference for their classmates and their school.”

“At the heart of why I do this work is because I believe we lack real leadership in this nation and in this world. So-called leaders today preach divisiveness and are more concerned with identifying enemies then bringing people together and solving big problems we, and future generations, are facing,” Andy said. “We need illuminators more than ever to shine light on opportunities to work together for good. When I work with these students, my faith and hope in the future is greatly restored.”