Emmy Award–winning speaker Clint Pulver inspired UVU students at the Halladay Lecture Series with lessons on purpose, mentorship, and meaningful leadership.
UVU was honored to host Clint Pulver, Emmy Award-winning speaker, author, and professional drummer, as the guest speaker for this week’s Reed and Christine Halladay Lecture Series.
Recently inducted as the youngest member of the National Speakers Hall of Fame, Clint shared an inspiring message about purpose, mentorship, and the power of creating meaningful moments. Known for his humor, energy, and ability to connect, he reminded students that success isn’t about recognition—it’s about impact.
Clint began by sharing a story from his childhood about a restless boy who could never sit still in class and was constantly tapping his leg. One day, his teacher asked him to stay after school. Expecting a lecture, the boy was surprised when the teacher handed him a pair of drumsticks and told him he thought he had a gift.
Then the teacher said something Clint would never forget: “I want you to keep these in your hands.”
That small act of belief changed everything. The young student—who turned out to be Clint himself—found his passion that day. He’s kept those drumsticks in his hands ever since, going on to perform for artists like Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, and The Blue Man Group.
While attending UVU, Clint founded the Green Man Group, which became the highest-funded collegiate drumline in the nation. He credits that opportunity, and his teacher Mr. Jensen, for showing him the power of believing in someone. “Beauty is found in the moments we create,” he said. “We don’t remember days—we remember moments.”
Clint shared that his life’s mission has been shaped by small moments like that one—moments that help people feel seen and valued. He encouraged students to create similar moments for others, reminding them that opportunities often hide inside problems. “Opportunities are always found within the problems,” he said.
He even used a clever reading exercise to prove how easily people miss what’s right in front of them, asking the audience to read aloud a phrase that included two “the” words—something almost no one noticed until it was pointed out.
Quoting Mark Twain, Clint reminded students, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” He encouraged everyone to find a career that allows them to do three things: pursue their passion, live with purpose, and provide for others.
For the past six and a half years, Clint has been part of a research project called the Undercover Millennial Program. He would visit businesses dressed like a young job seeker and ask employees what it was really like to work there. After visiting 687 organizations and interviewing more than 11,000 employees, he discovered that the best leaders create environments their people never want to leave.
These experiences became the foundation for his bestselling book, I Love It Here. “Great leaders don’t manage people,” he said. “They mentor them.”
Clint summed up his approach with one simple philosophy: “You learn, you earn, you return.” He encouraged students to take what they’ve learned, build on it, and give back—just as others have done for them.
Clint believes that “every great story has a mentor.” He talked about the mentors who have influenced his life, including his father and his teacher, Mr. Jensen. He also shared a story about Cael Sanderson, a wrestler from his high school who went on to become one of the greatest in the sport—undefeated through both high school and college.
As a teenager, Clint’s dad often invited him to watch Sanderson wrestle, but he rarely wanted to go. One day, his dad said, “If you want to be a great wrestler, you’ve got to hang out by the mat.”
That advice stuck. Clint used it to emphasize the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. “You become the average of the three mentors you spend the most time with,” he said. “So ask yourself—who are you hanging out with? What are you listening to? Who are you becoming because of it?”
He illustrated this point with a simple exercise: when he asked who the last Miss America or NFL MVP was, almost no one could remember. But when he asked the audience to name their “Mr. Jensen,” everyone could. “We remember significance,” he said, “not accolades.”
Drawing from his research, Clint shared the five traits that define outstanding mentors and leaders:
He reminded students that leadership is never about power or position—it’s about how people experience themselves because of you.
Clint also talked about creativity and courage, encouraging students to “create something that’s like a bear on a unicycle”—something uniquely their own. “The market will decide if what you do is valuable,” he said, “but the courage to create is what matters.”
He quoted Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, saying, “Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.” His point: don’t wait for perfect conditions—be prepared and take action.
“If you want to do something that has significance,” he added, “do small things consistently over a long period of time. It’s in the doing that things get done.”
Clint ended his lecture by reminding students to focus on significance over success. “No one remembers last year’s MVP,” he said, “but everyone remembers their Mr. Jensen.”
He left the audience with one simple question: “Are people better because of you?”
The Woodbury School of Business extends its heartfelt thanks to Clint Pulver for sharing his story, energy, and wisdom with UVU students. His message—to lead with purpose, live intentionally, and create meaningful moments left an unforgettable impact on everyone in attendance.
