Alumnus Rich Eldh ’81, an entrepreneur who created a $300 million global research and advisory firm, told business undergraduates that servant leadership is one of the most important, and misinterpreted, components of business success.

“Servant leadership means leading with strength, for the benefit of others,’’ he told more than 700 graduates, their family and friends, during the Commencement ceremony on Saturday at Gampel Pavilion. “It means empowering your team, fostering growth, and creating environments where others can shine.’’

Eldh is the co-founder of SiriusDecisions, Inc., a B2B research and advisory firm, which he ran from 2001 until its sale in 2018. The company, which employed 400, provided advisory, consulting, and learning services to help executives improve the performance of their sales, marketing, and product strategies. Clients included Adobe, IBM, GE, Cisco, and Motorola.

“Servant leadership has been misinterpreted over the last 10 to 15 years,’’ Eldh said prior to his Commencement address. “So-called leadership gurus have considered it passive or weak. That is a total misinterpretation.’’

“Servant leadership is doing what is right by three constituencies: your employees, your customers/clients, and your shareholders,’’ he said. Honesty, integrity, selflessness, curiosity, respectfulness, and humility are some of the traits of a servant leader, Eldh said. Those values spread through an organization and create a culture that’s a joy to work in and to lead.

At SiriusDecisons, that philosophy was paramount.

“We displayed our values through our business decisions,’’ he said. For example, to retain its talent, the company provided an environment that respected them as individuals and paid well for high performance.

“For many years, even as a startup company, we paid for all employee benefit premiums,’’ he continued. “This seemingly simple, but expensive, decision was one of the top reasons people with families chose to stay versus pursue jobs at other companies. If it is critical to one’s security and peace of mind, why wouldn’t we, as an employer, pay for our associates’ insurance?’’

Trust Yourself and Your Journey

Eldh also reassured the new graduates that almost all of their experiences will be valuable and that nothing happens by chance.

“The universe has your back—and will conspire, inspire and guide you, as long as you’re listening,’’ he said.

As a sophomore at UConn, Eldh shattered his ankle playing intramural basketball.

“I was in a brace and on crutches for nine months,’’ he recalled. “All my classes were across campus, and most days that felt like too much effort. Needless to say, that year was difficult academically.’’

By the end of the year, he felt like he was wasting his time and his parents’ money. He convinced a friend to leave UConn with him and move to Germany. His adviser thought he was crazy and his parents were shocked, but that September he began his adventure.

“I have to be honest, I was scared,’’ he said. “I remember thinking, ‘What have I done?’ I truly thought I had made a huge mistake.’’

But he had mentioned his plans to a friend’s father who helped him get a job in Kempten, Germany, writing code for a manufacturing firm.

“That job, and that year abroad, changed my life,’’ Eldh recalled. “I was completely out of my comfort zone and I discovered my love for technology. I discovered a love for travel, and for the world.’’

“That experience, which began with what seemed like a rash decision, became the foundation for my life and career,’’ he said. A year later, he returned to UConn and completed his degree, majoring in finance.

“I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do believe—with all my heart—that if you make decisions that feel right for you, the universe will put you in the right place at the right time,’’ he said.

He also told the graduates to work hard and not believe the myth of overnight success. Consistent hard work, like compound interest, leads to greater knowledge, promotions, a bigger income, and a competitive edge, he said.

“Graduates of the UConn School of Business, you have the brains, you have the insight, you have the passion…and more than anything, you have the power to shift the world!,’’ he said.