The Raider - Summer 2021

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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