Dr. Kester Crosse spoke with young people of the Columbia, Maryland Chapter of Jack and Jill of America this fall, sharing lessons on leadership, emotional intelligence and the power of making good choices. The message he hopes every one of them remembers: "Talent opens eyes. People skills OPEN DOORS!"
Some rooms are about selling books. This one was about something he cares about more. Dr. Crosse spent an afternoon with the young people of the Columbia, Maryland Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, talking about leadership, emotional intelligence and the power of making good choices.
His own words afterwards: "Leadership isn't just about what you achieve. It's about who you help become great!"
A mission he shares
Jack and Jill of America began in Philadelphia in 1938, when Marion Turner Stubbs brought together a group of twelve mothers. Today it has more than 230 chapters across the country, and its work is the one he named in his thank-you: investing in tomorrow's leaders. "Your mission of investing in tomorrow's leaders is one I deeply believe in," he wrote. "When we invest in our young people today, we change the future for generations to come!"
The poster on the easel showed what the chapter is building toward: its 23rd Biennial Beautillion, set for 17 April 2027 at The Hotel at University of Maryland, under the theme "Rooted in Heritage, Rising with Purpose." Few audiences fit Open Doors better. The book was written for high school students, college students and young professionals, the people standing in front of the doors right now.
Talent opens eyes. People skills open doors.
Character, relationships, action
His summary of the afternoon fits in one line: "Leadership starts with character, grows through relationships, and is demonstrated through action." Each of those three is a chapter of the book in miniature.
- Character shows in the choices you make when nobody is grading you. That is why he spent part of the afternoon on making good ones.
- Relationships are built one conversation at a time. The FROM Method from chapter seven gives you something to ask: where someone is From, their Recreation, their Occupation and their Motivation.
- Action is the last E in the TEEE Score, Execution, and the one that makes the other three visible to everyone else.
Emotional intelligence runs through all three. It is the skill of reading a room, managing yourself inside it and making other people feel heard, and like any skill it only grows with practice. It is the same case he made live on WBAL-TV 11 this fall.
Keep going
If you were under that tent, or wish you had been, the work continues here. Score yourself with the TEEE Score, practise the frameworks in the companion workshop, and get ready for your next big room with the Interview Mastery course on the courses page. Parents and chapter leaders who want this talk for their own young people can reach him through the speaking page.
In his words: "The future is bright when we choose to invest in it!" This site and its workshop are built and cared for by Smith App Studio.
Start with your own score
Talent, Energy, Effort, Execution. The TEEE Score takes four minutes and shows which one is closing doors for you.
Frequently asked
What did Dr. Kester Crosse speak about with Jack and Jill of America?
He spoke with young people of the Columbia, Maryland Chapter of Jack and Jill of America about leadership, emotional intelligence and the power of making good choices. His central message: talent opens eyes, but people skills open doors.
What is Jack and Jill of America?
Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is a national organization founded by a group of mothers in Philadelphia in 1938. It has more than 230 chapters and focuses on raising the next generation of leaders.
What does Dr. Crosse say leadership is?
In his words: "Leadership starts with character, grows through relationships, and is demonstrated through action." And: "Leadership isn't just about what you achieve. It's about who you help become great!"
Can Dr. Crosse speak to my chapter, school or youth group?
Yes. Speaking requests go through the speaking page at opendoorssuccess.com/speaking, where his talks are listed and each one maps to a chapter of Open Doors.