One of the many clubs at Bishop Feehan High School is McAuley Ambassadors, a group of exemplary students who portray leadership qualities and help out with many of the school events. These students are the brand ambassadors for Feehan, who are also handpicked based on the applications they filled out in the spring of the last school year.
This month, on Wednesday, October 15, guest speaker Katie McCabe came in to talk to these ambassadors about what it truly means to be a leader. Katie McCabe is the President and CEO of CAI International and also the only female member of Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc. McCabe’s speech to the McAuley Ambassadors centered on what qualities truly make up a leader, not just titles and authority, but rather influence and earning the respect of others through action and integrity. Her “four C’s”, competence, character, communication, and consistency, are all within one’s control and define the kind of leader a person becomes.
McCabe also emphasized that great leaders listen more than they speak. “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason,” she reminds students, stressing the importance of active listening and asking questions to show respect and learn from others. She also spoke about the power of nonverbal communication, stressing that eighty percent of communication is nonverbal. She noted that most of what we express is conveyed through tone, expression, and body language rather than words alone.
Faith, McCabe said, has become a guiding force in her work. She described how prayer helps her make difficult decisions with compassion and integrity, even in challenging moments such as firing an employee. Her goal is always to act with fairness, humility, and empathy. McCabe accentuated how “good character is the single most important measure of a good leader,” hitting home the point of how people are not born leaders but rather become leaders from their experiences. The character development they go through during their lifetime is crucial to their role not only in the workplace but also in general life. Character is one of the most important aspects of a leader, as their skills are rooted and shaped by their character.
McCabe’s visit left the McAuley Ambassadors with a powerful reminder that leadership is not defined by authority or status, but by authenticity, empathy, and the daily choices that reflect one’s life values. Her message encouraged students to lead with integrity and compassion, to listen before speaking, and to let their character guide their actions. As the Ambassadors continue to represent Feehan, McCabe’s lessons on the “four C’s” will serve as an everlasting foundation.
