The Power of Expectations: Dr. William Keyes and a Brotherhood of Impact
What does it take to shape a generation of high-achieving leaders with character, vision, and purpose? On this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Dr. William Keyes, founder of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship, whose story—from hitchhiking to Washington, D.C. with five dollars to mentoring seven Rhodes Scholars—is one of vision, grit, and deep moral clarity.
For over two decades, Dr. Keyes has quietly built one of the most extraordinary leadership pipelines in the country, focused entirely on African-American male college students. His model? Select 12 ambitious young men each year—not for their résumé polish, but for their potential to lead lives of purpose—and invest in them with mentorship, high expectations, and exposure to the best of Washington’s professional and intellectual life.
From Homeless to the White House
Dr. Keyes began his D.C. journey sleeping on couches in congressional buildings and sorting mail in the House Post Office. Within four years, he became Senior Policy Advisor to the President of the United States. He didn’t have connections, a college degree, or money—but he had clarity of purpose and a willingness to work harder than anyone else. That early experience shaped everything that followed.
Building the Institute: Mission Over Metrics
Founded in 2002, the Institute for Responsible Citizenship offers a two-summer experience in Washington, D.C., where fellows complete prestigious internships, study the Constitution, economics, and ethics, and learn from leaders like Supreme Court justices and Fortune 500 CEOs. But the most important lessons, Dr. Keyes says, happen around the dinner table—conversations about values, dignity, and calling.
To date, the Institute has mentored only about 250 students. But from that small group, it has produced seven Rhodes Scholars, seven Truman Scholars, two Fulbright Scholars, 16 Harvard Law graduates, and an astounding pipeline of impact across medicine, law, ministry, business, and public service.
Mentorship, Faith, and High Expectations
Dr. Keyes insists that the Institute’s success isn’t about the curriculum—it’s about expectations. “People live up to high expectations,” he says. “And they live down to low ones.” That principle is foundational to the Institute’s work. Fellows are expected not just to achieve, but to lead with integrity, serve others, and glorify God with their gifts. The stories shared in this episode—of alumni like Elijah Heyward and Jordan Thomas—show what happens when that kind of culture is built intentionally.
Staying Small, Going Big
Though the Institute could easily scale, Dr. Keyes has kept it small by design. The intimacy of the experience—12 students at a time—creates lifelong brotherhood, personal accountability, and deep trust. That scale allows for rich mentorship, one-on-one investment, and high relational leverage. And it’s why alumni don’t just achieve success—they pull others up with them.
Lessons for All of Us
In the final stretch of the conversation, Dr. Keyes reflects on his own “Going Big” journey—and what it means to lead a life of purpose. Whether you’re in your twenties or your sixties, his message is clear: your past doesn’t define your future, and your gifts are meant to serve something greater than yourself. “Find out what the Lord put you here to do,” he says. “And then work really, really hard to do it.”
This is one of the most extraordinary episodes we’ve ever recorded. Don’t miss it.
#Leadership #RhodesScholar #FulbrightScholar #WhiteHouse
