I'm a CEO and a dad. Here's the college advice I'm giving to my kids - including why I don't care what they major in.

There's a reason many schools have broad curriculum requirements — diversity in your studies is only going to make you a more well-rounded person. And when you enter the workforce, chances are you will have to wear multiple hats and work with a diverse range of people. I know my company is always seeking out talent who can bring holistic experience to the table.

College is full of opportunities to broaden your horizons and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives — and not just in class. Join clubs, take a semester abroad, go to campus events where you'll be the odd one out, and get used to putting yourself in places where you're a little bit uncomfortable. If you're studying STEM, take a comparative literature class to learn how to interpret abstract thoughts and ideas; if you're studying arts, get a grounding in logic by taking a computer science course.

To that end, choosing a college that is in a different community and has a different demographic than where you grew up can help you meet people with varied backgrounds, experiences, and ideas about the world.

I grew up in a town where almost everyone lived and looked like me, so I applied to large, public universities so I could meet and connect with people from all walks of life. My eldest son, who grew up near Boston, is now getting a totally different experience at UC Berkeley. Getting out of your comfort zone can inform your education more than any lecture ever could.

There's no way around it: the increasing cost of college has only amplified the pressure to make the most of it. But that doesn't necessarily mean having a perfect attendance record or burying your nose in books (or screens). Earning top marks doesn't always mean you're learning the most valuable lessons and — spoiler alert — no employer is going to care if you get a 3.9 instead of a 4.0.

Most companies want people to step up to the plate, and lead by example in taking initiative to get things done. College is a great place to learn to do that, whether it's by starting a club, organizing a protest, or participating fully in class discussions through respectful debate.

That being said, I realize this comes more naturally to some people than others — and to be clear, it's not about taking up all the oxygen in the room and dominating the conversation. It's about truly participating in every opportunity, sitting in front, raising your hand, and learning to hone your voice and speak up for what you believe in.

My three kids are all very different from one another — and they're different from my wife and I. Their college experiences will each be unique. My eldest is studying computer science; my youngest just announced he wants to do a gap year. And, after toying with the idea of engineering, my middle son decided environmental policy might be more in line with his interests. They may all change their minds, or their directions, along the way. That's OK, too. Life is full of twists and turns — that's part of the journey.

Ultimately, my hope isn't that they follow in my footsteps, or even become business leaders. At the end of the day, I want my kids to become competent, emotionally intelligent people who care about the world and are curious about it. I want them to learn to ask smart questions and open their hearts and minds to the views of others with both a sense of self and empathy.

These are qualities that I value as a father, and as a CEO they're also the qualities I know will take them far in their careers — whatever those happen to be.