Michael D. White ’70 Center for Emerging Leaders
Forming Virtuous Leaders
At BC High, we believe that leadership is not just a skill—it’s a calling. The Michael D. White ’70 Center for Emerging Leaders is dedicated to developing tomorrow's leaders through transformative experiences that shape character, inspire action, and encourage a deep commitment to service. With a focus on the Ignatian tradition of servant leadership, the Center empowers students to become agents of change both within their communities and beyond.
I have grown in my ability to appreciate the nuances of other peoples perspectives, and how I can leverage knowledge of other people's perspectives and experiences to serve as a better leader.”
Our Mission
The Michael D. White ’70 Center for Emerging Leaders is committed to nurturing young men who will lead with dynamism, self-awareness, and humility. By fostering practical leadership skills such as effective communication, collaboration, and other-centered ambition, we aim to equip our students with the tools they need to inspire and lead with purpose. Through a blend of thoughtful reflection, hands-on experiences, and mentorship, we empower our students to step into the world as transformational leaders—guided by the Ignatian charism of “Spiritu, corde, practice”—in the Spirit, from the heart, practically.
Pillars of the Center
The Center's approach is built on three key pillars that shape our leadership training. These pillars guide students on their path to becoming well-rounded, impactful leaders:
Leadership Skills
Service
Sharing our Stories
Leadership Designation: Empowering Growth
Students enrolled in courses with a Leadership Designation will have the opportunity to dive deeper into the core principles of leadership, with a focus on self-awareness, dynamism, humility, and magnanimity. These students will:
- Recognize and describe the foundational pillars of leadership in the Ignatian tradition.
- Reflect on their own leadership style, identify areas for growth, and develop their potential.
- Understand that true leadership is about empowering others to achieve their best selves for the greater good.
- Apply the principles of Ignatian leadership to their daily lives, making leadership a meaningful part of everything they do.
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Meet Mike White '70
Michael D. White ’70 was born into a BC High family and is proud of the legacy his father, Thomas, began as a graduate of the Class of 1945. Mike was the first of his brothers to attend BC High traveling to Morrissey Boulevard from Walpole, MA. His brothers Tim ’71, Greg ’74, and nephew Chris ’00, are all proud to be Eagles!
Mike went onto Boston College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and Russian where he was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Furthering his education after BC, he received a Masters in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University which set the stage for his future professional endeavors.
He is the former chairman, president and chief executive officer of DIRECTV, a position he held from 2010 until his retirement in 2015. He was vice chairman and CEO of PepsiCo International from February 2003 until December 2009, which encompasses all of PepsiCo’s beverage, snack and food operations outside the U.S. and Canada.
Prior to taking charge of PepsiCo International in February 2003, he had been president and CEO of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Among his other earlier positions with PepsiCo, which he joined in 1990 as vice president of planning, were senior vice president and chief financial officer for PepsiCo., Inc.; executive vice president and chief financial officer for Pepsi-Cola Company worldwide; and executive vice president and chief financial officer of Frito-Lay International.
He credits his long, successful career to the solid foundation he received while at BC High. Teachers like Brian Donaher ’55, fostered a passion for the Classics. A passion that taught him how to study and reflect which he carried with him everywhere he traveled.
In addition to his stellar career accomplishments, Mike is in his second year as a member of the Board of Directors of Bank of America Merrill Lynch and has been on the Board of Whirlpool Corporation for almost fifteen years. He also served a two-year term on the Board of Kimberly-Clark. In true BC High tradition, Mike is very involved in charitable work and serves as the Vice Chair of the Partnership to End Addiction. His passion for Jesuit education has continued as he currently serves as a Trustee at Boston College.