David Freund shared on Apr. 29 a personal reflection following the recent passing of his father, highlighting key life and leadership lessons he learned over the years.
Freund wrote that his father’s influence shaped both his personal and professional life, offering guidance through example rather than words alone. The reflection was prompted by the loss of his father earlier in April, an event that led Freund to consider the enduring impact of these teachings.
Among the lessons recounted were principles such as not allowing others to define one’s potential, maintaining a commitment to lifelong growth, and understanding that leadership is fundamentally about serving others. Freund described how his father’s career progressed from an apprenticeship at Westinghouse Electric to retiring as Vice President of Manufacturing, continuing to contribute by consulting with MACNY into his eighties.
He also noted specific values modeled by his father: treating all people with respect regardless of their position, representing employers with integrity, choosing kindness even toward those who have wronged him, and speaking truthfully but always with compassion. Faith played a central role in these lessons; according to Freund’s account, it was something lived out daily rather than simply discussed.
The piece concluded with reflections on finding beauty in everyday moments and facing life’s end with dignity. “These lessons remind me that leadership isn’t built in moments of convenience — it’s forged over a lifetime of consistent choices,” Freund wrote. He posed a final question for readers: whether they are living lives worthy of being followed themselves.
