In “The View From Dave’s Barstool,” Principal and Managing Director, Dave Paule, discusses…well…whatever happens to be on his mind.

Why the barstool? Barstools can certainly be social. They’re frequently the center point of great conversation. There is no pretension, no corner office or head-of-table amongst a row of barstools. So, every month, Dave invites you to pull up a barstool and explore a topic he’s found particularly important (or amusing) recently. Because some leadership lessons show up in boardrooms. Others show up at the bar.

Dave’s Thoughts This Month: Gatekeepers & Invitations

This week, I presented at SEMC’s 75th Conference, where I found myself in a conversation about promotion, executive succession, and mentorship. It brought to mind an enduring American myth: the “Self-Made Man.” I call it a myth because everyone I’ve ever met who claims this title has, somewhere along the way, benefited from mentorship, kindness, or support.

Often, we romanticize “earning your way” without acknowledging the people who quietly moved the furniture around so we could get through the door. We call someone a “self-made success story”, but rarely ask who made the introduction, who took the phone call, who said, “You should meet this person,” or who gave them a shot before they had the résumé to prove they deserved one. And honestly, that’s not a criticism—it’s how careers work. We all need someone willing to spend a little of their own social capital on us.

The part that keeps nagging at me, though, is that we’re not always equally generous with that capital. We tend to mentor people who remind us of ourselves. We recommend the person we already know. We give the stretch assignment to the person who feels like a safe bet. None of it necessarily feels exclusionary while we’re doing it. That’s the tricky part. The door doesn’t have to be intentionally locked for someone to be consistently left outside. Maybe leadership isn’t just about opening doors for people—it’s about noticing which doors we instinctively open, for whom, and why. And maybe every once in a while, we should stop congratulating ourselves for being the person with the key and ask whether we’ve opened the door wide enough.

This month, pour yourself a Paper Plane. Then consider who is still waiting for an invitation.

This Month’s Drink: The Paper Plane

Created by bartender Same Ross in 2007, this month’s cocktail, the Paper Plane, offers a fitting metaphor: four ingredients, equal parts, each contributing something distinct to the whole. The takeaway is simple: sponsor someone whose work deserves recognition, make an introduction, or open a door that might otherwise remain closed. Equity isn’t just about who gets a seat at the table. It’s about who gets invited, who gets prepared, and who gets the chance to contribute once they’re there.

Recipe:

  • ¾ oz bourbon
  • ¾ oz Aperol
  • ¾ oz Amaro Nonino
  • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients with ice until chilled. Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass. Each ingredient brings something distinct to the glass. The balance comes from how they work together.