Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson ’83 to Grads: Say Yes to Opportunities, Cultivate Friendships
In a reflective and heartfelt keynote address, Arne M. Sorenson ’83, president and CEO of Marriott International, recounted how the world and profession has changed in the 35 years since he graduated. On the positive side, he noted the great strides that have been made in technology and in recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusiveness. On the negative side, he pointed to the increasing divisiveness in discussions of politics.
“If we are ever going to change this dynamic in society today, it will be driven by the marriage of two things, expertise and empathy,” he said. “These are things that lawyers need in abundance, and they are taught in abundance at this law school.”
Sorenson next advised the graduating students to “just say yes” to opportunities that come their way, even if those opportunities sometimes lead them in completely unanticipated directions.
After graduating from the Law School, Sorenson initially took a traditional route, a judicial clerkship followed by 12 years working as an attorney in the Washington, D.C., office of Latham & Watkins. At Latham & Watkins, Sorenson worked as outside counsel with Marriott and its legal team, developing a close relationship. He got to know the then-CEO, and came to respect the culture of the organization.
When Marriott asked Sorenson to come aboard as in-house counsel, he made the jump. When he was later asked to move from legal counsel’s office to an executive suite, he took yet another leap.
“If you asked me 35 years ago today where I would be, the last thing I would have told you was CEO of Marriott,” he said. “I did not plot this career path. It certainly was not something that I was foolish enough to aspire to. I let my career unfold. … Keep your minds open to those twists and turns of fate, and challenge yourselves to just say yes.”
Sorenson emphasized the importance of building and maintaining friendships along the way, despite the many time pressures that lawyers often face.
“Friendships are more important than money, career success, fame, and even good nutrition in fostering health and happiness,” Sorenson said, citing research studies that have highlighted the connection between close relationships and wellness.
“Friendships are easy at your age—they practically fall into your lap,” he said. “But they get increasingly more difficult to make and sustain as you get older. It takes time and commitment. It won’t happen unless you are deliberate about making it happen. But if you are looking for happiness, you won’t regret a minute that you spend on it.”
