Platon: Greatness starts when others see themselves in your story

Photographer Platon has captured images of a wide variety of people, from the homeless to a who’s who of cultural icons. During his ED (Filene) Talk Sunday at CUNA GAC, Platon shared his stories of being in the same room as some of the most recognizable people who have ever lived—the good and the bad. 

“I’ve seen power up close and personal, but I haven’t seen the magic ingredient to being a good person or a good leader in most of these people,” he said. “I think the answer is in a little word called ‘service.’ I think that a great member of society has to think of themselves as a servant of people in order to make things better.”

Platon recalled sharing a love of the Beatles with Russian President Vladimir Putin (favorite Beatle: Paul; favorite song: “Yesterday”) and an admiration for Winston Churchill with President George H.W. Bush. He’s listened to George Clooney decry society’s echo chambers, was moved by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s thoughts on feminism, and captured the “power and discipline” in Apple CEO Tim Cook’s eyes.