Chapter 13Cathy BenkoVice Chairman and Managing Principal, Deloitte Consulting, LLP
If you want others to be happy be courteous, compassionate, and altruistic; if you want to be happy, be courteous, compassionate, and altruistic.
—John Mattone
CATHLEEN BENKO IS ONE OF five girls brought up by a mother who did the best she could on her own. Growing up in New Jersey, she was raised with no sense of expectation or urgency to go to college and succeed in the world of business. Luckily, young Cathy didn't adhere to lack of expectations. When the randomness of life presented opportunities, Cathy embraced them utterly and entirely.
An honor roll but not stellar student, Cathy was extremely active in her high school, engaged in myriad activities. She might not have been on the path to university, but she was highly engaged in school and community. So much so that, toward the end of her senior year, a letter arrived one day from the local Lion's Club. Opening it up, Cathy read the line: Congratulations and in recognition of your civic contributions we would like to award you with a scholarship contributing to the first year of the college of your choice.
There was just one problem: Cathy had no plans to go to college. So while it was flattering, she simply left it on the kitchen counter and forgot about it. Forgot, that is, until her mother picked it up and said, “you need to put this award toward some good use!”
So Cathy registered for a one-year, advanced secretarial school program, ...
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