Consultant
Hampton, who by his own account was at the doorstep of international relations and global events as an officer with the U.S. Navy, now spends his second career in the Dallas area as a consultant and active volunteer. He is passionate about expanding his own his understanding of the world, and commits an hour a day to reading, an unfathomable luxury some may believe, but one he says is critical to success. He’s also passionate about giving back to his community and serves with several local organizations.
Tell us the highlights of your professional career. What are your proudest achievements?
I’ve been blessed with a pretty amazing journey. I spent the first half of my professional life serving our nation in the U.S. Navy. There’s a (very) old Navy-recruiting poster that is just so true. “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure.” My career has been, at times, a wild adventure. I was a surface warfare officer, which is a fancy name for ship driver. I served on destroyers in the Cold War and chased Soviet Union submarines around just about every ocean on the planet. I also supported three missions in support of Iraqi Freedom. I literally have been part of the history your children study in school now.It was an honor, privilege and blessing to serve this country and wear the uniform – one that I am both proud to have done but grateful for the opportunity. I’ve spent the latter half of my career as a management consultant based in the DFW area.
What brought you to UT Dallas?
The reputation of the Jindal School of Management as well as the flexibility of the program is what drew me to UT Dallas. Using a combination of classroom and online classes, I was able to work full time and somehow have time for a life. It was an investment in myself that was worth every second.My wife, Marcia, is a UT Dallas JSOM alumnae. She earned her MS in Accounting in 2007. Now my nephew, Austin, is in his second year at JSOM.
What is your favorite UT Dallas memory?
The two best days in graduate school are the day you start and the day your graduate. Those two have to be the top of the list. However, UT Dallas was an amazing experience and I enjoyed my journey. There were too many to narrow down to one favorite.
Who was your favorite professor and/or what was your favorite class and why?
All of my professors were very good but two in particular stand out.First, the late Dr. Connie Konstans: I was very privileged to take two of his classes. He was an amazing man and quite a character. I learned a great deal from him both in class and outside of class. I was very sad to hear of his passing.Second is Dr. Seung-Hyun Lee: The strategic management courses I took in the program were hands-down my favorites. I love strategy and loved Dr. Lee’s classes. I had Dr. Lee in both the capstone Strategic Management class as well as his International Strategy class.
What’s the best advice you have received?
I had the privilege of meeting one of the greatest minds of the 20th century and a personal hero: Rear Adm. Grace Murray Hopper, U.S. Navy. If you don’t know who she is, I would recommend you hit Wikipedia. It’s worth the read. She was involved in the very first computers and is a legend in the technology world. Admiral Hopper’s advice was “make sure you reserve at least one hour per day for professional reading.” She told me that a long, long time ago and I’m proud to say I’ve followed her advice religiously. She was right. Learning never stops and to keep sharp in your career, you have to continuously learn.
What advice do you have for current students hoping to succeed in the business world?
See the item above! Learning never stops, ever. Stop learning and your career will stagnate fast. Invest in yourself and your professional growth. I did my MBA late in my career, just because I wanted to.Seek out the hard jobs. This goes hand-in-hand with continuous learning. The harder jobs have higher personal risk but offer the best kind of experience.Find ways to give back. Find a cause or charity you can be passionate about and give back to it. Don’t just give money. Invest some of your time. The return on investment is 10 times what you put into it. Try to serve on boards. It doesn’t matter if they are professional organizations or charitable. Make time for your family and yourself. Marcia and I have been married for over 14 years and we still have “date night” on Wednesdays.
What makes an effective leader?
First and foremost, you have to recognize that you don’t get anywhere alone. Success is a team sport, not one for individual contributors. Next, since you can’t get anywhere alone, you better take care of the people who are with you. You, as the leader, are in charge of making them successful. Make them successful and you by default become successful.Celebrate the team success. Make a big stinking deal of it.Allow them to make mistakes, just make sure everyone learns from it and moves on. Anyone can “fumble the football.” I’ve seen Emmitt Smith drop a ball or two. He’s still in the Hall of Fame. He’s still a winner. Listen a lot more than you talk.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I have several recreational outlets and then somewhere I spend time “giving back.” First, I’m an avid equestrian so I ride my horse as much as possible. When not riding, I also love to garden. There’s something very soothing about digging in the dirt and nurturing a collection of plant life. I also enjoy kayaking and fishing, usually both at the same time.I spend a lot of my free time giving back to the community in several areas. I am very active in the non-profit/philanthropic space. I’m currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Dallas County affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. This cause is special as I lost my mom to cancer. I’m also on the committee putting on this year’s “Race for the Cure.” As an equestrian, I’m also a very passionate supporter of equine therapy. I volunteer some of my time supporting Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship in Wylie. I help with their program for veterans, known as “Hooves for Heroes.” Lastly, I spend a lot of time as a veteran advocate and have been involved in championing the cause for legislation supporting our nation’s veterans. I currently serve on the UT Dallas veteran advisory board.
