2025 Hagel Forum: Discussing Evolving Leadership

What makes a great leader? One of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) most highly anticipated annual events took a deep dive into the topic with two leaders’ experience operating in high stakes environments.

➡️ The news:

• UNO recently hosted the seventh annual Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership at the Strauss Performing Arts Center. Admiral John F. Kirby, who served as the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications from 2022 to 2025, was the main speaker. Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, a UNO alumnus, joined Kirby for a discussion moderated by UNO Political Science Associate Professor Michelle Black, Ph.D.

• UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D. CFA, welcomed the audience with opening remarks for the evening’s conversation.

💡Why it matters: The Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership brought UNO and the Omaha community together for the opportunity to engage with two distinguished leaders on critical global issues. The forum highlighted the importance of U.S. leadership in navigating modern complex challenges, such as global trade and international conflicts.

📝 Leadership lessons: Kirby’s remarks centered on leadership grounded in ethics and clear communication. He shared real-world examples to drive home key themes for aspiring leaders:

• Principled leadership: He emphasized that doing the right thing – even when it’s hard – is fundamental to earning trust and leading effectively.

• Strategic communication: Kirby underscored the importance of clear, honest messaging. How a leader communicates decisions, especially during crises, can be as critical as the decisions themselves.

• Decision-making under pressure: He cautioned against rushing decisions in the heat of the moment. Kirby even offered an acronym, NDBIT (no decision before its time), to remind leaders to be patient and deliberate.

• Aligning with core values: Effective leadership, Kirby noted, means ensuring every decision reflects your organization’s core values and mission. Staying true to those principles keeps leaders anchored when navigating tough issues.

🎤 What they’re saying:

• Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on how UNO shaped him: "It’s an important institution for our state, for our country, but it’s an important institution for me, because when my brother and I came back from Vietnam, I needed to finish school. I needed to start college. I came to UNO. I think all of a sudden, lives are shaped, molded by mentors, by institutions, by people who care about us, certainly starting with their parents, and UNO is one of those institutions. UNO was one of those institutions that shaped me, and it’s a privilege to be back here tonight.”

• Retired Admiral John F. Kirby on values-driven leadership: "You are not only responsible for the timing of your decisions, but you're also responsible for putting them into proper perspective, into time and space. Envision the future that you want to see, aligning that future to the core values of your organization, and then understanding how your decisions relate to a larger whole.”

• Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, on the impact of the Hagel Forum: "This kind of event doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a lot of thought, planning, and relationship-building. We are honored to have our guests here tonight to spend the evening with you. I also want to thank our students for being here tonight — this is your event, your time to listen carefully. And a special thank you to our colleagues, faculty, and staff for being here as well.”

✅ The bottom line: The Hagel Forum has become a cornerstone event for UNO, bringing global leaders to campus each year. It not only highlights critical world issues but also inspires students and the community to lead with integrity, communicate with clarity, and stay true to their values.