Today is Becka’s birthday. I met Rebecca Dearth as a shy, quiet, brilliant student in my class. Over the years she worked as my graduate assistant and ultimately ran my consulting practice and taught at The University of Tampa. In some strange way I have always treated her like my daughter, and her ‘wicked’ 3 year old, Jay, now goes to the Montessori.
“Your job is to make me look good,” was my tongue in cheek directive, years ago, and she has never let me down. Even today, she manages this blog — the visuals are entirely hers — and is always a phone call away when I need good work, done right.
She is probably one of the top 10 students that I have taught over a 28 teaching career. On more than one occasion she has wondered aloud why she is not in the top 5. Rarely do people have the combined skill set of strategic thinking, tactical insights, and executional brilliance. Becka is one of those rare ones!
My ultimate reward is to see young people blossom and come into their own. She has done that, and then some. Happy Birthday Becka child. I am so proud of you, and thank you for always making me look good!
About Hemant Rustogi