http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/mercks-ken-frazier-brainwashed-parents-succeed-22362068
Transcript for Merck's Ken Frazier: 'I Was Brainwashed by My Parents to Succeed'
You are the grandson of a slave. The son of a janitor and now you run -- the largest pharmaceutical companies aren't earth. How was -- -- well I think you have to start by saying that's a quintessential American story. I grew up -- -- fairly humble situation but my parents had very strong values. And their values essentially were around education. And the concept that if you got a good education and you work hard and you did the right kind of life he could do anything you want. The only question is can you be stopped -- so we all grew up knowing that we weren't allowed to be stopped. Because Otis gracious that -- not be -- absolutely. I think -- spend time with children -- election children in North Philadelphia. For whom opportunity seems so. Far removed from where they lived -- how does that. Your message your father's message to -- resonate to this next generation my wife and I are among the founders of an inner city school. And we have found over the 25 years that the school has been in existence if you put them an environment that's both challenging and nurturing at the same time. Those children can actually achieve great things have the same potential academically and -- the same potential to contribute to the world that anyone else happens I think it's. A terrible liar -- society when we say that children who come from poor backgrounds are destined to go on to lives of crime. Or less than full citizenship. When you're talking to your colleagues your friends in corporate America executives like yourself about this issue. Friend a friend what he -- and when you see that young man in Philadelphia that we've all seen pants hanging down -- -- knee caps. Attitude not well -- what he said to him. So what I would say my CEO -- is the same thing I would say -- everybody else that thinks the arrow. LaGuardia right here in New York said -- many years ago we are responsible for educating -- children. And if we want to be successful as a country we have to ensure that we have that kind of talent here in the United States to be successful in my business for example. The education in the -- area the size technology. Engineering mathematics. We have to ensure that children in the United States can compete with children all over the world so I think it's important to our businesses. That we focus on educational infrastructure. As it relates to those kids I think the first point is you can't lecture to these kids you have to invest in the relationship first. You can't look at the young man walking down the street and presume to understand his life. You have to show him that you care enough to put yourself in his place. So that you actually earned the right to be listened to people don't like to be told that their lifestyles of the wrong lifestyle so. I don't know how to deal with it in the abstract the reason -- my wife. And I are so involved in this school is that we can capture 250 kids and we can have a relationship with them and their parents. And we can actually help them achieve what I think -- parents always wanted for those games.
Transcript for Merck's Ken Frazier: 'I Was Brainwashed by My Parents to Succeed'
You are the grandson of a slave. The son of a janitor and now you run -- the largest pharmaceutical companies aren't earth. How was -- -- well I think you have to start by saying that's a quintessential American story. I grew up -- -- fairly humble situation but my parents had very strong values. And their values essentially were around education. And the concept that if you got a good education and you work hard and you did the right kind of life he could do anything you want. The only question is can you be stopped -- so we all grew up knowing that we weren't allowed to be stopped. Because Otis gracious that -- not be -- absolutely. I think -- spend time with children -- election children in North Philadelphia. For whom opportunity seems so. Far removed from where they lived -- how does that. Your message your father's message to -- resonate to this next generation my wife and I are among the founders of an inner city school. And we have found over the 25 years that the school has been in existence if you put them an environment that's both challenging and nurturing at the same time. Those children can actually achieve great things have the same potential academically and -- the same potential to contribute to the world that anyone else happens I think it's. A terrible liar -- society when we say that children who come from poor backgrounds are destined to go on to lives of crime. Or less than full citizenship. When you're talking to your colleagues your friends in corporate America executives like yourself about this issue. Friend a friend what he -- and when you see that young man in Philadelphia that we've all seen pants hanging down -- -- knee caps. Attitude not well -- what he said to him. So what I would say my CEO -- is the same thing I would say -- everybody else that thinks the arrow. LaGuardia right here in New York said -- many years ago we are responsible for educating -- children. And if we want to be successful as a country we have to ensure that we have that kind of talent here in the United States to be successful in my business for example. The education in the -- area the size technology. Engineering mathematics. We have to ensure that children in the United States can compete with children all over the world so I think it's important to our businesses. That we focus on educational infrastructure. As it relates to those kids I think the first point is you can't lecture to these kids you have to invest in the relationship first. You can't look at the young man walking down the street and presume to understand his life. You have to show him that you care enough to put yourself in his place. So that you actually earned the right to be listened to people don't like to be told that their lifestyles of the wrong lifestyle so. I don't know how to deal with it in the abstract the reason -- my wife. And I are so involved in this school is that we can capture 250 kids and we can have a relationship with them and their parents. And we can actually help them achieve what I think -- parents always wanted for those games.
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