Devils and Details

Eddy Cue is made for innovation. As Apple’s senior vice president of services and health, Cue is always looking for the opportunity to shake up the status quo. His journey from all-nighters with his first computers to meeting Steve Jobs created his passion for innovation.

Deondra Rose is made for ambition. In this episode of Blue Chair Conversations, the Duke professor and author reflects on the transformative power of education, the importance of curiosity and why learning to engage across differences is essential for the next generation of leaders.

Max Templeton is made for service. In this episode, Templeton’71 reflects on what it meant to arrive at Duke in 1967 as one of the institution’s early Black students, the resistance he faced before even stepping onto campus and the defining experiences that shaped his understanding of leadership and service. From the events surrounding the Allen Building takeover to a distinguished career as a Navy officer and veteran advocate, his story offers a powerful perspective on change, courage and lifelong commitment to community.

Melissa Bernstein is made for Meaning. The co-founder of Melissa & Doug shares her personal story behind one of the world’s most beloved toy brands. Bernstein reflects on leaving a conventional career path, building a successful business alongside her husband and discovering how creativity became a source of healing. She also discusses her work mentoring students, studying meaning and helping others imagine lives beyond fear and expectation.

Norman Wirzba is made for Compassion. Wirzba, professor in the Duke Divinity School and Director of Research in Duke’s Office of Climate and Sustainability, shares why hope, compassion and community are essential to building a more sustainable future. Drawing inspiration from family, faith and the next generation, Wirzba reflects on how personal love can shape global responsibility, especially in the face of climate change.

Tyson Haywood Brown is made for Mentorship. Now leading the Samuel DuBois Cook Center at Duke, Brown shares his vision for building multigenerational mentorship that empowers the next generation of scholars and leaders. He reflects on the powerful role of mentorship from his college professors to his grandfather, the Rev. Haywood Brown.

Sadie Tillery is made for Curiosity. As co-director of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Tillery says her curiosity in other’s stories makes her more compassionate and understanding. Through the festival, she brings award-winning artists from all over the world to Durham, North Carolina, every year.

Peter Feaver is made for Empathy. As the director of Duke’s American Grand Strategy program, he believes that being able to walk in another’s shoes is a core value. That’s why he organizes an event every four years that gathers Republican and Democratic presidential advisers in discussion.

Angel Collie is made for Leadership. He wakes up and writes down three things he is grateful for every day, taking the chance to lean into gratitude instead of fear. And in Angel’s experience working with faculty and students, he can lead with hope and belonging in partnership with Duke.

Coach Jon Scheyer and Dr. Joseph Turek are made for Teamwork. Head Coach of Duke Men’s Basketball Jon Scheyer and Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Dr. Joseph Turek both run successful teams that win together. In this conversation, they discuss the keys to success, what makes a team great and how their unlikely friendship has impacted their journeys.