Hello and good morning, Class of 2025!
Standing here today is such an honor and it's also completely surreal. Because forty years ago—almost to the day—I was leading the Class of nineteen eighty-five onto the football field for commencement with my fellow senior class officers.
I remember the sun …
I remember the sea of caps and gowns …
And … I remember thinking, “This is it—this is the big moment.”
But what I remember most vividly is actually something two of my fellow class officers said to me just as we were lining up, facing our classmates and the crowd of families and friends: “Hey—we think we see your dad.”
Now, just like today, the stadium was packed, and I honestly thought my friends were teasing me.
But then they pointed—top left corner of the bleachers. And sure enough, there he was: my dad, Duke Digilio.
Jumping up and down, waving both arms, beaming and shouting with joy, like only a proud parent can. Duke was short in height, but he had a huge presence—especially on that day. He just couldn’t contain his joy. I was the first in my family to graduate from college and he wanted everyone to know how proud he was of me.
So, today, I know two things for sure. First, my dad is somewhere up in heaven, jumping up and down again, cheering that his daughter is giving the commencement address at this amazing school, her alma mater. And second, that Glazer Arena is filled with Dukes. Moms, dads, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, partners, and chosen family—people who are absolutely bursting with pride for you.
That’s right, parents and friends, feel free to cheer! Stand up and celebrate your graduate. Unleash your inner Duke!
Of course, Class of 2025: You should feel proud, too.
You’re graduating and, I hope, filled with a sense of accomplishment. But you may feel a little sadness, too, right? Maybe you're even a little unsure about what's next? That’s understandable, you’re leaving the friends you’ve made and the community you’ve been part of these past four years.
It's natural to feel some uncertainty along with the excitement about what lies ahead … So, as I thought about what would be most meaningful for me to share from my journey as you begin your own … it came down to a few simple, but very powerful principles.
2025 Commencement Speaker

Surround Yourself with Good People
Beginning with the overarching principle of “Surround yourself with good people.”
Good people who are your champions. Who share your values, see your promise, and can be counted upon to lift you up in life in good times, tough moments and the in between.
Duke and my mom encouraged me to do this from my earliest days. In addition to instilling their belief in me, that I could do anything I set my mind to, they taught me about the power of having good people around us. Following their advice has been essential to my career and happiness in life. And, as it turns out, my career leading Human Resources and people functions of global companies, meant it was my job to literally surround myself and my colleagues with good people. People with drive, talent, and curiosity—as well as kindness and empathy.
It can be harder than you might think, but there’s really nothing more important for you in your career, in your life, and in this moment.
Look around. Some of those good people may be here with you today—your fellow Ithaca College graduates and family. These are the people who believe in you, can support you, and will be there for you just as you will be for them. Keep them close. You will also meet others who will be great friends, influential mentors, and talented bosses. Nurture those relationships. Be good to those people and let them be good to you.
These people will make a big difference in your life as you leave Ithaca College and make your way at work and in the world. With good people by your side and taking an active role in your professional and personal life, you can face any challenge and succeed beyond your wildest dreams.
So, what does it look like to actively surround yourself with good people?
"Surround yourself with good people ... These people will make a big difference in your life as you leave Ithaca College and make your way at work and in the world. With good people by your side and taking an active role in your professional and personal life, you can face any challenge and succeed beyond your wildest dreams."
Finding Champions Who Push Us to Be Our Best
First: recognize the people in your lives who see your potential and want the best for you, those who will push you to be your best. Sometimes these folks will see a light in you that you may not even know you have. These are the people who will gently nudge you out of your comfort zone when the time is right and urge you to accept new challenges, whether it’s taking a new job, creating something new, starting a company or just taking a chance on yourself.
And sometimes, a gentle shove is just what you need when it’s time to make a move or lean into a new opportunity. That’s how I got to Ithaca College. In my senior year in high school I had been accepted to some great colleges, including Ithaca, but I was worried my mom needed me to stay close to home on Long Island. I thought maybe I should stay home, work, and maybe take some classes at a community college nearby. But a teacher who knew me well and was convinced I shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend an excellent school stepped in.
He actually went to my mother and told her I was thinking of taking a pass on a going away to attend a great school. My mom sat me down and said, “You are going to college. You are going to pursue your big dreams and have a big life.”
It wasn’t easy. I put myself through school – through a combination of financial aid, student loans, working at the Ithaca College pub, and multiple summer jobs. And thanks to another great person, former Dean of the Park School of Communications, Tom Bohn, I was able to earn a master’s degree in Communication at IC, when he strongly encouraged me to accept a fellowship whereby my tuition was covered in exchange for me agreeing to be a graduate assistant and to help with the marketing of the program. I initially hesitated about staying behind for a master’s degree, while my friends were graduating and leaving Ithaca, but fortunately I listened to Tom.
But that push—that belief—from my both my high-school teacher and Tom, changed the entire trajectory of my life. It taught me that other people—good people—can sometimes steer us in the right direction, help us see our path, or guide us when it isn’t clear to us.
Sometimes others see the light in you before you see it yourself.
Being Open to New Experiences & Relationships
Second: Be open.
Look at the people around you. Just four years ago, the friends who surround and nurture you today were probably strangers. You were thrown into the whirlwind of starting college during the pandemic, and despite it all, you found community, your tribe. Maybe your closest friends are people you shared a room with, studied alongside, played sports with, or got to know while pursuing a passion. Your tribe may be large or just a few people. Either way, you will carry these friendships with you long after college …
And just as those relationships don’t end today – neither does the need to keep being open to new relationships and the experiences that follow. You never know where they will lead.
One of my many jobs at Ithaca was as an admissions officer during graduate school. During a campus visit, a parent of a prospective student saw something in me – and offered me a job that would change my life. “I want to hire you when you graduate,” he said.
I couldn’t believe it. But it turned out he was serious and said he would create a role for me at the small, family-run company that had recently gone public. He was the CEO. So, I joined the company and suddenly found myself flying around the country giving presentations to presidents of school boards with people like Jean Young, the wife of Atlanta mayor and civil rights activist, Andrew Young. The door that the Ithaca parent opened for me was one of many, both in my career and my life. With the encouragement of those around me, I took that opportunity and many others that followed.
In time, I went from being a young woman with an inclination toward self-doubt to a more confident person learning from icons of the hospitality, gaming, and entertainment industries… successful people who gave me the chance to travel the world, open hotels and resorts and launch new brands throughout the US, Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
With the opportunity to work side-by-side with people of different backgrounds and cultures …
All of these experiences enriched my life, expanded my world, and helped me become a successful leader. But as I reflect back, I realize they were only possible because I actively chose to be open to them, even when I feared I wasn’t ready for the next step—often a BIG step—in my career.
So, when someone who believes in you thinks you’re ready ... believe them! Walk through the door!
Building and Nurturing a Real Network
Third: Build and nurture your network.
I don’t mean collecting a thousand LinkedIn connections. I mean finding a few good people who really get you—and sticking with them.
In one of my earliest jobs in hospitality, I worked closely with a man named Alan Fuerstman, someone I admired tremendously. We worked together acquiring luxury properties and discovered we were a great team. At one point, Alan and I ended up spending a month onsite advising our employer on a real estate transaction. During that time, we got to understand one another. He shared his hopes and dreams for his career – and I shared mine.
Long after we each left that company, we remained friends and stayed connected. Over the next decade, in addition to periodic catchups, Alan called me every year to ask me to join him at the hotel company he had started in 2002 – Montage - and I would say “no”.
Now you might ask, “Monica, what about being open to new experiences?” But for most of that time, I had a big job I loved, overseeing 20,000 employees in 13 countries – and he was running what was, at the time, a small, fledgling company with three hotels and fewer than 2,000 employees.
But Alan was as persistent as he was talented and kind. He knew that I could help him attract really great people and help him grow the company – and I knew him and what he was building. So, when I finally said yes, it was because I knew I could be the partner he needed. And I wanted to help my friend.
That move ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made – and we had an incredible run together. We built a world-class team, a great employee culture and experience, and set the company on a growth trajectory that continues today.
When it was time for me to move on because I wanted to stretch again and do something different with my career, he said he was sorry to see me go but he supported me 100%. Then he helped me achieve my next big goal, which was to serve on a public company board as an independent director. It was Alan’s encouragement and recommendation that helped to make that happen. That’s what good people do.
The point is, when you build a network of people who understand you—and nurture those relationships—those people will nurture you too.
A strong network isn’t about quantity—it’s about loyalty, understanding and trust.
"The point is, when you build a network of people who understand you—and nurture those relationships—those people will nurture you too. A strong network isn’t about quantity—it’s about loyalty, understanding and trust."
Modeling Goodness: Be the Good Person
Finally, if you want to be surrounded by good people, be a good person.
Let’s end where we began, with my dad, Duke.
When I got my first job opportunity in HR, Duke was encouraging as always. But he gave me a piece of advice I’ll never forget: “Remember: When you are in HR, and meeting with employees, you’re talking to a person. Your words—and how you treat people—could make it the best or worst day of their lives. Remember who you are.”
What my dad was telling me was, “Don’t lose your humanity.”
That feels especially appropriate today.
- When you have the chance, open a door for someone.
- When a friend is uncertain, lift them up.
- When faced with a choice, choose kindness.
As I look back on the people, I’m most grateful for in my career and life, I don’t think of the people with the biggest titles. I remember those who have been loyal, generous, and human. I’m a product of their goodness. That’s what I want to leave you with today.
Class of 2025: The good people around you will help you see your light, pursue your dreams, take bold chances, and live the big life you were meant to live. Let them. And be that person for someone else.
So go forward.
Be brave.
Be kind.
Be unstoppable.
And always remember – you’ve got a whole team of Dukes cheering you on.
Congratulations, Class of 2025! The world is waiting for you!