MIKE ARMISTEAD ’82: Listening, learning and giving back
A
bout a year ago, Mike Armistead ’82, a successful serial
significant financial aid to attend Stanford, where he majored
entrepreneur, posted a blog to the website for Respond
in engineering and continued to work at various jobs to help
Software, where, at the time, he was CEO and co-
pay for school expenses.
founder. The headline read: “In the startup world, listening is key.”
The gift from Armistead and his wife Kathy will ensure that
It turns out that listening has not only been the key to
a student with financial need can experience what Mike
Armistead’s success in businesses, it also played an important
says benefitted him the most: “the hard work and challenges
part in his formation at Regis Jesuit, and Stanford thereafter.
required to excel at many things, along with the cross-group
“You don’t necessarily associate listening with high school students, but that’s when the Jesuit values really sank in for
friendships and involvement in activities that cut across traditional stereotypes and cliques.”
me,” he said. “Take the often-quoted creed Men and Women
He said: “I gained a lot of confidence in those days, primarily
with and for Others. You can’t be for someone or something
by stretching beyond being ‘just an athlete’ or ‘just a good
unless you understand their ambitions, their struggles, how
student.’ That’s what I’d like to enable in someone else.”
they think and where they would like to go. To do that, you have to listen.”
The Armistead family’s ties to Jesuit education—and to Regis
Armistead now lives in Los Altos, California, and Respond
Bellarmine College Preparatory school in San Jose. His brother,
Software has been purchased by FireEye Inc. where Mike
Mark ’80 runs Regis Jesuit’s annual golf tournament, The Rudy
continues in an executive role. Across more than a thousand
Cup, which supports the Rudy Brada Scholarship for Financial
miles, he has heard the call of Inspire & Ignite 2025, Regis
Aid. Between Mark and their brother Matthew ’86, they count
Jesuit’s vision for access, innovation and excellence—
three more Raider alums: Joanna ’09, Greg ’06 and Colin ’19.
especially the goal of removing real and perceived barriers to
Caroline will graduate in 2022.
entry and retention for students and families who desire to attend. He has responded wholeheartedly, with a significant financial aid gift in the name of the Armistead Family
Jesuit—remain strong. Mike’s three sons attended the all-male
“I grew up neither wealthy or poor and went to Catholic school. I saw my parents putting money in the collection plate every week,
Endowed Scholarship.
and I learned early on that giving back is incredibly important.
“If someone can’t go because of need, it’s a tragedy,” said
generosity, and I include my Catholic educators as part of that.”
Armistead, who worked during high school, including as a janitor, while playing football, basketball and running track. He also dabbled in speech and debate, worked backstage in the theatre program and was elected vice president of student government. He received
To learn more about Inspire & Ignite 2025, Regis Jesuit’s vision for access, innovation and excellence, visit www.regisjesuit.com/StrategicPlan
Over the years, I’ve been the recipient of someone else’s
Armistead knows that his family’s gift to Regis Jesuit will make a real difference. “When I look at the places I can support, I choose the ones that are most deserving and also will be the most appreciative. For me, Regis Jesuit certainly fits that criteria.”
To read Mike's blog visit https://respond-software.com/ lessons-from-the-ceo-listening-is-key
T H E R A I D E R | SUMMER 2021
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