Meighan Stone – former president of the Malala Fund and a current Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Entrepreneurship Fellow – visited campus this week to talk to students from 6th to 12th grades about her work with young girls and refugees, her life’s mission, and more. Named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2016, Stone encouraged students to follow their passions, to build strong relationships, and above all, to work hard and be kind.

“You owe excellence everywhere you work,” she said. “Don’t act entitled. If you are expected to do a job, you should do it with all you have because you have worth and value and you’re not going to waste any of it … I’ve never been the smartest, prettiest, most connected, or most prepared person in the room, but I’ve always been kind to people.”

She also told students they should never apologize for asking questions and demanding answers.

“You can be persistent and be polite – polite doesn’t mean not knowing your strength or power,” she said.

In addition, she also talked about how her work at the Malala Fund – and Malala Yousafzai herself – influenced her.