At the end of his CEO Unscripted Speaker Series interview, Bryan Brenner left us with one simple truth. If you only remember ten seconds of this entire conversation, make it this: Believe in yourself and find a great mentor.
It sounds simple, but the impact of that advice goes far deeper than most people realize.
When students talk about their biggest fears, one theme comes up again and again: “What if I am not good enough?”
Self-doubt is one of the biggest barriers to success. It can keep you from applying for opportunities, speaking up in class, or pursuing the career path you really want. The voice in your head says you are not ready, not qualified, not capable. And if you listen to that voice, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
Self-belief changes everything. It does not mean pretending you have all the answers. It means trusting that you are capable of learning, adapting, and growing along the way. Bryan reminded us that success rarely comes from certainty. It comes from the courage to try.
Think about the first time you considered running for a leadership role on campus. Maybe you thought someone else was more experienced. Maybe you were nervous about failing. But if you believed in yourself enough to try, you probably discovered you were more capable than you realized.
Or imagine applying for an internship that felt like a stretch. You might have doubted yourself, but hitting submit was the first step toward proving you could rise to the challenge.
Self-belief is not about arrogance. It is about quiet confidence that allows you to take action even when you feel unsure.
Bryan paired self-belief with another key piece of advice: find a mentor. Confidence gets you started, but mentorship helps you grow. A mentor offers perspective, encouragement, and guidance when the road gets tough.
For students, this could be a professor who sees your potential, a supervisor at a part time job who challenges you, or an older peer who has already navigated the stage of life you are entering.
The combination of self-belief and mentorship is powerful. Believing in yourself gives you the courage to step up. A mentor helps you keep going.
Bryan also emphasized one last trait that ties it all together: kindness. In a world where leadership can sometimes lean on ego, choosing kindness is what creates lasting influence.
Leaders who lead with thoughtfulness and compassion inspire others to do the same. They build teams rooted in trust and respect. They leave behind a legacy not just of what they accomplished, but of how they made people feel.
For students stepping into leadership roles, kindness can be as simple as listening to classmates, supporting peers, and recognizing the contributions of others.
At SCLA, we believe these values are not optional. They are the foundation of meaningful leadership. That’s why we help students build confidence, find mentors, and lead with kindness through our career readiness programs, advisor network, and student community.
Bryan’s closing words may have lasted only ten seconds, but their meaning can guide you for a lifetime. Believe in yourself, find mentors who will support your growth, and lead with kindness.
And that is great news. It means you do not need the perfect plan to get started. You just need to start.
🎥 Want to hear Bryan share this lesson in his own words? Watch the first clip in the CEO Unscripted Speaker Series.
🎧 Or dive into the full conversation on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.