George Feldenkreis,Chairman of the Board and CEO, PerryEllis International Inc.


George Feldenkreis (left) in procession with Babson's Dean of Faculty, Fritz Fleischmann.

Address to Undergraduate Candidates, Babson College, May 20, 2006

Feldenkreis delivered a bold, passionate case for using business success to make the world a better place for everyone.   He should know...in 1961, Feldenkreis immigrated to the US to flee from Castro, the 'malevolent despot'. He was born and educated in Cuba, even earning a law degree there and believed in the need for revolution...Feldengreis said that was before Castro took away his law degree and turned the revolution into a dictatorship.

•  "In   this age of uncertainty, become beacons of hope for immigrants...be proud of   your heritage of freedom, fairness, and justice."

•  " Make   it your duty to help the poor and weak, save them from corruption and   injustice.  Be creators of a fair, humane, and prosperous society."

• "Be   leaders in your community...provide fair distribution of wealth and destroy   the cancer of corruption."

• "Things   will happen that you never expect...you must be ready to change, adapt, and   be flexible to new situations."

• "Excellence   is the baseline.  You are the best, you make it good or better than   everyone else."

• "In   the long run honesty and ethical behavior are easiest and the cheapest   paths to success!"