Detroit philanthropist Danialle Karmanos gave a motivational speech to graduates while receiving an honorary doctorate during the June commencement ceremony at the Athens-based Hellenic American University — one of Greece’s premier U.S.-affiliated universities.
The humanitarian activist spoke charismatically as she offered words of advice to the new graduating class, encouraging them to surround themselves with other high-achievers and be unafraid of criticism.
“Honest feedback is hard, but trust me when I tell you to listen to those that have more experience than you,” Karmanos said. “Be grateful for the criticism, even when it’s extremely inconvenient and probably annoying, and I don’t doubt that you might know better.”
Karmanos is well-known for her dedication to children’s issues in Michigan. She has founded numerous charities that focus on children’s health and physical wellness — particularly in the inner city — including The Cuddlers, a team of volunteer moms who visit hospitals to cuddle with newborns, and Work It Out, a holistic health and wellness yoga-based program that has helped and impacted almost 15,000 inner-city youth in Detroit.
See Karmanos’ speech below
https://youtu.be/UPVs5baASM4
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