You never should have heard about him. His story defies the odds. He was born into slavery, kidnapped by raiders as an infant, was not expected to live beyond 21 years of age because of his poor health and was a black scientist in the age of racial segregation. But after his death, the United States built the first national monument to honor someone other than a president. That someone was George Washington Carver.

In between, George Washington Carver accomplished incredible feats as a scientist, educator and inventor – and he raised the bar when it comes to leadership.

Here are a few of the leadership lessons we can take from George Washington Carver.