National Champions Address Inner Circle

Jake McSteen, redshirt freshman and left-handed pitcher for the men’s baseball team, introduced and welcomed two letterwinners and national champions to its February meeting: Lindsay (Wischmeier) Peterson, member of the 2000 NCAA National Championship Nebraska Volleyball team, and Jay Foreman, member of the 1995 and 1997 NCAA National Championship Nebraska Football teams.
 
Addressing how their leadership philosophy has changed or morphed over the years, both speakers noted the importance of actively listening to their teammates and coworkers.
 
"The skill of listening is huge,” said Peterson. “The person who talks the most or loudest is seldom the leader, it’s the one who is leading by example and listening to the needs of others.”
 
Foreman added that while he included hard work, consistency, and accountability in his leadership philosophy during college, he now includes active listening: “Now as a business professional, people want to be heard and to do so, you need good listening skills.”
 
In addition to sharing a commonality in valuing listening skills in their leadership, speakers also shared similar comments on what made their respective national championship teams successful.
 
"Every player cared about the team and everyone else on the team more than themselves,” said Peterson, reflecting on her own national championship as well as being a part of the coaching staff for the 2015 NCAA National Championship Nebraska Volleyball team.
 
Foreman echoed her sentiments as he spoke to the selflessness of the 1995 and 1997 Nebraska football teams. “We had star players and worker bees, but everyone cared about each other and held each other accountable. We played individually and thought collectively.”
 
Peterson and Foreman credit the foundation of their success to their student-athlete experience at Nebraska and those they met along their way that still serve as personal mentors, including Dennis Leblanc, Executive Associate Athletic Director for Academics, and Keith Zimmer, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Life Skills.