LTG(R) Nadja West '82 is Key Speaker as Class of 2024 celebrates 500th Night

The Class of 2024 finally reached a pivotal milestone during this academic year as they gathered at Washington Hall to celebrate the annual 500th Night Banquet on Saturday, marking 500 days until they graduate from West Point. During the ceremony, the keynote speaker, LTG(R) Nadja West '82, shared some important lessons about leading a team during a crisis and the importance of effective communication and humility. West made it clear that any possible threat can drastically change how the U.S. Army operates, and she used examples such as the pandemic and current worldwide conflicts to underscore the importance of enduring a crisis while instilling confidence in Soldiers to the cadets. “During times of crisis, you must be a leader of character, so your people know that they can trust you when you have to make hard, unpopular choices,” West said. “You have to be transparent so those you lead understand what’s happening and why so they don’t resort to assuming the worst.” West added that a leader has to resonate with their Soldiers and understand the importance of empathy. “You must have the humility to know that you do not have all the answers,” West explained. “You must rely on a diverse team with a wide range of perspectives that are empowered to tell you the truth and are able to respectfully disagree without retribution.” Read more.