Leading a mission-driven life of service

In May, the Presidential Leadership Scholars Class of 2026 gathered at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, where they focused on the leadership principle of strategic partnerships. During the module they engaged in conversation with Jean Becker, former post-presidency Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush; Andrew Card, who served as White House Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of Transportation in the President George H.W. Bush Administration; Fred McClure, Former Assistant for Legislative Affairs in the President George H.W. Bush Administration; as well as John Sherman who is Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

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The Scholars also heard from Alice Gonzalez Yates, who is Chief Executive Officer of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. Below, Alice reflects on the Foundation's work and lessons in leadership from President and Mrs. Bush.

What brought you to the George and Barbara Bush Foundation?

I was a Texas A&M student in 1997 when the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum opened, and I was fortunate to serve as a student host for the guests attending the dedication ceremony. My admiration for President and Mrs. Bush was ignited that day and grew over time as I witnessed how their presence deepened our university’s commitment to public service. I saw firsthand the ripple effect of their investment in the next generation of public servants: a network of purpose-driven leaders engaged in solving complex problems across state and local government, non-profits, the military, the intelligence community, and diplomatic posts around the world. Those lessons stuck with me. A couple of decades later, when I was given the opportunity to serve the Bush School of Government & Public Service in Washington D.C., I realized that my commitment to advancing the values that President and Mrs. Bush embodied—service, leadership, and civic responsibility—had become a defining throughline in my professional path. In many ways, that path came full circle a little more than a year ago, when I joined the George & Barbara Bush Foundation as CEO.

What leadership lessons from President Bush have guided you in this new role?

First and foremost, humility. What a gift for any leader to have a blueprint for humble service! Second, his commitment to hard work…and to working in service of something greater than ourselves. President Bush answered the call time and time again, often in extraordinarily challenging circumstances. Most of us would consider our lives successful if we achieved even one of the titles he held, yet he never stopped living out his belief that, “there can be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others.” Finally, empathy. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by stories of the way that President and Mrs. Bush engaged with the people around them. Their example reminds me to lead with empathy and to appreciate perspectives grounded in values or experiences different than my own.

How does the foundation continue to teach new generations on the legacy of President George and Barbara Bush?

The George H.W. Bush Presidential Center is proud to be home to Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government & Public Service. Through that partnership, we have the distinct privilege of sharing the values of President and Mrs. Bush with students across College Station and Washington D.C., through guest lectures, high-impact engagement with subject matter experts, and in all the traditional settings you might imagine as a part of the higher education community. We also have the opportunity to share those same values with thousands of school children and young people through the exhibits and programs that bring President and Mrs. Bush to life at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum. We are leaning into this moment of digital platforms and public convenings to share their record of service—whether through books, video, stories, policy decisions, or first-hand accounts from those who knew them best. As an organization, we strive to model the “lead by example” approach that President and Mrs. Bush championed throughout their lives. They believed that investing the next generation was the most important part of their legacy, so the resources we provide through scholarships, program endowments, family literacy grants, community grants, and study abroad experiences are central to both our philanthropic commitment and our mission.

The George & Barbara Bush Foundation is a proud partner of the PLS program along with the Presidential Centers of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Lyndon B. Johnson. During module at each Presidential Center, Scholars explore lessons in leadership from each presidency. As one Scholar reflected on their recent experience at the Bush Presidential Center: “[President Bush’s] fidelity, humility, resolve, and joy for life made him…whom I would most want to emulate. It reminded me that all of us, in our own way, are missionaries of the work and communities we are called to serve.”

Applications for the PLS Class of 2027 are now open! Find more information at www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org/apply