Darlington Career Day will feature a keynote address by alumnus Chris Motley (’99, LD ’13), founder and CEO of Better Weekdays, on Jan. 17 at 8:30 a.m. in Morris Chapel. All students in grades 9-12 will participate.
“We are very excited to have Chris here as our keynote speaker for Career Day,” said Vicki Vincent, director of alumni relations. “He was on campus last spring for our Leadership Darlington retreat and says he is looking forward to the opportunity to share with our students a little about his career journey. Chris plans to utilize interactive technology in his presentation, and we hope the students will be engaged and inspired by his insights into today's job market.”
Motley’s company, Better Weekdays, aims at helping individuals make better career decisions for maximum productivity and impact. He and his team have developed a decision engine that not only helps individuals recognize and leverage their unique strengths for professional success, but also gives HR leaders increased objectivity in their campus recruiting process and beyond. By focusing on factors that ultimately drive professional performance – one’s motivations, abilities and personality – his team is trying to improve the way talent management professionals source, screen and develop talent. He is primarily responsible for strategy, business and customer development.
Prior to founding Better Weekdays, Motley served as director of global strategy and sustainability and then as executive vice president at 1888 Mills, a global home and commercial textile manufacturer. He also founded The Founder Institute, an early-stage startup accelerator and global launch network in the Greater Chicago Area that helps entrepreneurs create meaningful and enduring technology companies, as well as Eagle Capital Solutions. For three years, he was a trader at Goldman Sachs. Motley holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University and an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Career Day sessions focusing on various professions from education to veterinary medicine will be led by 31 other alumni, including Helen Davis (’02, LD '12), Dr. Hunter Edwards (’04), Drew Fuller (’08), Dr. Sara Harbin (’95), Meredith (Koegler) Harrison (’93, LD '13), Rhonda (Wilson) Hennessy (’01), Mary Jane (Hall) Huegel (’78), Izzy Hortman (’08), Mike Hudson (’94), Ransom James (’92), Jimmy Kelley (’74), Wright Ledbetter (’85), Luke Lester (’84, LD '13), Barton Lowrey (’05), Kimberly McCoy (’88), John McElrath (’99, LD '13), Holly (Hagge) McHaggee (’97, LD '13), Ryan Murphy (’92), Dr. Leverett Neville (’95), John Newton (’05), Robert Noble (’70), Dr. Dan Pate (’76, LD '13), Julia (Barton) Pollard (’86), Frank Pratt (’94), Mark Rogers (’94, LD '12), Blake Segars (’99), Julius Shaw (’72), Heather Town (’97), Ed Watters (’83), Megan (Gates) Watters (’97) and Whitney (Keene) Whittington (’01).
“We are so appreciative of all of our alumni who are returning to Darlington for Career Day to give our students a firsthand glimpse into their respective careers,” Vincent said. “This is something our students are really looking forward to, and I know that our alumni will not disappoint them!”
Career Day is sponsored biannually by Darlington School’s Alumni Council.
