If you're building something bold — a startup, a career, a movement — then you know this already: talent gets you started, but character keeps you in the game. That’s why Mia Hamm’s recent commencement speech at UNC-Chapel Hill hit home. She didn’t talk about winning World Cups. She talked about how to lead, how to last, and how to show up for the people around you when it matters most.

A few weeks ago, Mia Hamm stood on the stage at UNC-Chapel Hill and delivered one of the most powerful commencement speeches I’ve heard in a long time. Not because she talked about being the GOAT (which she is), but because she talked about something way more important in life and business:

“Be the teammate you’d want beside you in tough moments.”

Read that again. It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being the most reliable. The most prepared. The most trusted. That’s what real leaders do — what I try to do every day at Clayco — they build trust by showing up when it matters most.

Whether you’re a young entrepreneur chasing your first big idea or a rising talent ready to leave your mark, this mindset is everything. Success doesn’t come from working alone, it comes from the team you build, the culture you shape, and how you carry people with you. When I started Clayco, I didn’t know much about construction. What I did know was how to find the best and brightest people, and listen to them, learn from them, and build something bigger than any one person. That’s still how we win today.

Mia reminded the Class of 2025, and all of us, that legacy isn’t just what you win. It’s what you give away.

“Know that success is not final, and failure is not fatal.”

At Clayco, this is how we operate. We bring in people who want to grow fast, think long-term, and lead with purpose. We don’t need perfect resumes — we need people who are passionate, collaborative and tenacious. People who want to build something real, not just for themselves, but for their teams, clients, and communities.

Mia Hamm didn’t become a world champion by chasing headlines. She became one by setting standards — day in, day out — and pulling others up to meet them. That’s the kind of person we look for at Clayco. That’s the kind of mindset that wins over time.

So here’s the challenge:

• Be a force multiplier.
• Be the one who raises the bar, not the one who waits for it.
• Be the teammate who’s calm under pressure and generous with credit.

We’re building the future at Clayco — and we’re always on the lookout for leaders who play that way.

You in?