In a culture that constantly looks forward, few people carry the past with such clarity and conviction as Dr. Douglas Bradburn.
As President and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Bradburn doesn’t just preserve history—he brings it to life. He leads with the belief that the values that built America are not relics of a distant era, but a living blueprint for how to lead, serve, and Go Big! in today’s world.
It starts with understanding the man at the center of it all.
Earned Success, Not Entitlement
George Washington didn’t believe in shortcuts or guaranteed victories. He believed in merit. One of his favorite quotes, drawn from Joseph Addison’s play Cato, reflected that core conviction:
“It is not in mortals to command success, but you can do more—you can deserve it.”
That single idea shaped Washington’s entire life—and it shapes Bradburn’s leadership at Mount Vernon today.
Washington spent years preparing for roles he didn’t yet know he would have. He educated himself. He studied strategy. He practiced discipline. And when his moment came—first to lead an army, then to lead a nation—he was ready. Not because he chased power, but because he had worked to be worthy of it.
That spirit of preparation, humility, and purpose defines how Bradburn approaches his stewardship of Mount Vernon. He knows that history isn’t just about what happened. It’s about who we choose to become because of it.
A Place That Still Shapes the Nation
Mount Vernon is more than a beautifully preserved estate. It’s a powerful symbol of how leadership is built—over time, with discipline, with vision, and with the resolve to do what’s right, not what’s easy.
Thanks to Bradburn’s direction, Mount Vernon is both a sacred reminder of the past and a bold investment in the future. It remains completely privately funded, just as it has been since a group of extraordinary women saved it in the 1850s—long before women could vote or own property.
Those women raised the equivalent of millions of dollars today, crossing North-South divides in the shadow of the Civil War to do something that had never been done before. They went big. And Bradburn continues that legacy—leading with courage, innovation, and the kind of grounded conviction that Washington himself would have admired.
Making History Relevant Again
Under Bradburn’s leadership, Mount Vernon has become a hub of research, restoration, and education. Scholars come from around the world. New artifacts are uncovered. Forgotten stories are rediscovered. One recent archaeological find revealed 250-year-old preserved cherries—buried beneath the estate, perfectly intact, still speaking to the rhythms of 18th-century life.
But it’s not just about what’s buried. It’s about what’s alive.
Through digital innovation, interactive exhibits, and immersive experiences, Mount Vernon now meets people where they are—on screens, in classrooms, and through programs that connect the heart of George Washington’s leadership to the lives we’re building today.
Going Big! With Honor
Washington didn’t just lead armies and shape governments—he gave the world an example of what it looks like to Go Big! with character. He stepped down from power. Twice. He refused to become king. He reminded the world that true greatness lies in restraint, humility, and principled action.
That is the model Bradburn is carrying forward today.
Leadership, at its core, isn’t about dominance—it’s about service. It’s about preparing yourself so that, when the opportunity comes, you are ready. It’s about surrounding yourself with people who stretch your thinking, refining your skills, and understanding that going big is not about ego—it’s about legacy.
A Call to the Rest of Us
You don’t have to run a historic estate to lead with purpose. You don’t have to be a general or a president to make your mark. As George Washington believed, and as Bradburn embodies, what matters most is how you prepare, how you carry yourself, and how you treat others along the way.
Success isn’t guaranteed. But a life of meaning, honor, and purpose is always within reach—if you’re willing to do the work to deserve it.
So take the risk. Pursue the thing that matters. Build something that lasts.
And when your moment comes, be ready to Go Big!
