It was September 11, 2001, and Simon Woolley had an airline ticket to fly from the UK to the US. He’d received a special invitation from Washington DC to visit and tour the country, to learn more about America. When terror landed, destroying the Twin Towers and crashing into the Pentagon, Woolley assumed the trip would be cancelled. But a few days later, he received a call and next found himself on one of the first post-911 flights from London to Washington.
During a special Cambridge in America “In Conversation” west coast event on September 11, 2025, Woolley reflected on the terror attacks and on the trip that opened his mind and heart to America in new ways.
“I saw America at its most vulnerable, its most tender, at its most needy. As a Brit, I was embraced with love. I was embraced with joy,” said Woolley during his opening remarks, setting the stage for an evening of deep discussion and insight.
Woolley, Baron Woolley of Woodford, Principal of Homerton College and founder of Operation Black Vote, the internationally renowned NGO dedicated to fostering a multicultural democracy in Britain, welcomed entrepreneur and philanthropist Lynn Fritz for a wide-ranging discussion about the power and importance of community to create transformational good.
Woolley underscored the positive changes that happen with focus and commitment, pointing to Operation Black Vote. The organization increased the Members of Parliament of color from four to more than 80, compelling both parties to compete for by black and brown people’s votes.
Fritz described how he built his company, Fritz Companies, Inc., which integrated fragmented international trade processes, and built his fortune. His decision to transition to humanitarian work after selling the company was, he said, a “eureka moment.”
“All of the same nonsense and fragmentation within the commercial world were also there in spades in humanitarianism,” Fritz said. So, he applied his expertise in integrating processes to develop ways to improve people’s lives.
Specifically, he trained his focus on front-line humanitarian operations and building strong, effective operations. In 2001, Fritz and his wife established the Fritz Institute which is dedicated to mobilizing rapid and effective disaster response and recovery.
Both speakers welcomed questions from the alumni audience and spoke on trust-building in all relationships and the importance of focusing on purpose beyond profit or personal advancements.
“We explored themes of leadership, purpose, passion, and how to make things happen against the odds,” said Lord Woolley in a post-event social media post. “The evening was made even more special by the alumni community-your thoughtful questions, shared experiences, and energy truly captured the spirit of the day.”