Advice to Grads: The Real Commencement Speech

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Advice for New Grads

By Desiree Grace,
River Heights Consulting

Picture this: your friend and mine, Frank Hurtte, is invited to give a commencement speech. Before stepping up to the podium, he’d get a trim to sharpen that Colonel Sanders meets Midwest straight talk look. Then he’d sit down to prepare his remarks. As you might imagine, this discussion took place over a diet soda (generic, of course) for him and a black coffee for me.

In my mind, new graduates need to understand a few fundamentals. To start, they must learn the strategy, goals, and culture of their new organization. Their actions and priorities should align with those elements. Even the language matters. For example, some companies use “sales” to mean top‑line revenue. Others use “turnover.” Learning the vocabulary is part of learning the job.

Beyond that, new grads need to show up on time, follow directions, and be prepared. The homework doesn’t stop when you walk past the podium. In today’s world, no organization hires an automaton or machine. We have Artificial Intelligence for that. Initiative and creative thinking matter. Anticipate questions. Go the extra mile and research what benchmark competitors are doing. Pay attention to the world around you. Set Google Alerts for macro trends that affect your industry. Follow thought leaders. A good place to start is River Heights Consulting’s blog for best practices in the distribution space. (Shameless plug.)

Never one to miss the practical and people‑centered side of the job, Frank also talks about supporting your boss’s success. Make him or her shine!  A quick check‑in before communicating with the higher-ups helps you stay aligned and on‑message. want to be aligned and on‑message. And in general, get along with people. Don’t be the unreliable or cranky one. Embrace the fact that you’re new. Ask questions. Seek advice. You’ll make friends and shorten your learning curve.

Frank adds other pearls of wisdom. For example, be yourself. His quirky, approachable, Midwestern straight talk has been valued and appreciated by like-minded folks. He doesn’t mince words, sometimes inviting “hate mail.” Frank combines decency with an ability to cut through the BS. Loyalty is another attribute. Frank and I have been friends for years. He keeps friends and clients the way frugal farmers keep and care for equipment: with consistency, respect, and long‑term commitment.

If your team is onboarding new grads or preparing the next generation of leaders, River Heights Consulting can help you build the skills, structure, and strategy they need to thrive. Give us a holler.

 

 

TL;DR

New grads succeed by learning their organization’s strategy and culture, showing up prepared, taking initiative, asking questions, and aligning with their boss. Authenticity, curiosity, and reliability go a long way.



About Our Co-Valedictorians


Desiree Grace (Augustana, University of Iowa) is a distribution industry veteran known for her
practical leadership style, clear communication, and commitment to developing emerging talent. She focuses on workforce readiness, organizational culture, and the real‑world skills new professionals need to succeed.



Frank Hurtte (Illinois State University) brings decades of experience in distribution, relationship‑building, and straight‑talk leadership. His approachable Midwestern style, practical wisdom, and loyalty to clients and colleagues make him a trusted voice for professionals at every stage of their careers.








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