Recruiters & Career - Partner With Darden - Leadership Speaker Series

 

Below are some of our featured past speakers.
 

The Honorable Mahendra Siregar

Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the United States of America

Ambassador Mahendra Siregar was inaugurated as the ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the United States of America on 7 January 2019. Ambassador Siregar recently served as the executive director of Council for Palm Oil Producing Countries and advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Prior to that, he was chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), vice-minister of finance, vice-minister of trade, chairman and CEO of Indonesia Eximbank, and deputy coordinating minister for economic affairs. 

Ambassador Siregar was also a member of the board of commissioners of various corporations operating in financial services, mining, manufacturing, technology, consumers good and infrastructure. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in 1986 and was assigned to various postings, including economic third secretary of the Indonesian Embassy in London and information counselor of the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Indonesia in 1986, and received a master in economics from Monash University in 1991.

Learn more about Ambassador Siregar's visit to Darden. 

Listen to Ambassador Siregar's Talk
 

Tom Barkin

President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Tom Barkin is the president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. He joined the Richmond Fed in January 2018. In this role, he is responsible for the Bank’s monetary policy, bank supervision and regulation, and payment services as well as oversight of the Federal Reserve System’s information technology organization. Barkin served as a voting member in 2018 on the Federal Reserve’s chief monetary policy body, the Federal Open Market Committee.

Prior to joining the Richmond Fed, Barkin was a senior partner and chief financial officer at McKinsey & Company. Barkin oversaw McKinsey’s offices in the southern United States and provided strategic counsel to a diverse portfolio of clients. He also served on the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from 2009–14 and was the board’s chairman from 2013–14.

Barkin is a member of the Emory University Board of Trustees and the Greater Washington Partnership. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and law degrees from Harvard University.

Learn more about Tom's visit to Darden.
 

Scott Price

Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, UPS

Scott Price serves as strategy and transformation officer for UPS. Scott and his teams are responsible for strategic planning, global business services, mergers and acquisitions, the Advanced Technology Group, and driving and facilitating transformational change. These efforts include identifying and executing opportunities for profitable growth within existing business units and in new markets and product segments through the identification of resources that may be redirected to the highest strategic benefit and greatest shareholder value.

Scott was most recently executive vice president of Global Leverage for Walmart International. He led Global Sourcing, International Technology, International Logistics, Fresh Manufacturing and key strategic leverage initiatives for the company’s international segment.

Previously, he served as president and chief executive officer of Walmart Asia from 2014–16. Before joining Walmart, Scott served as CEO of DHL Express Europe. Previously, he was CEO of DHL Express Asia-Pacific. He also was president of DHL Express Japan, DHL's largest market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Prior to joining DHL, Scott spent a decade with The Coca-Cola Co. During that period, he assumed various roles of increasing responsibility, including country leadership positions in Japan and as a director and region manager in China.

Scott serves as chairman of the National Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the only U.S. business association focused exclusively on facilitating American private sector input to the APEC process and APEC’s 21-member countries. He is also one of three ABAC (APEC Business Advisory Council) members appointed by the White House in December 2016. He was previously a member of the U.S. India Business Council and served on Darden's board of trustees.

A Montana native, Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. He also holds a master of business administration degree and a master’s degree in Asian studies from the University of Virginia.

Learn more about Scott's visit to Darden.

GAIL J. MCGOVERN

President and CEO, American Red Cross 

Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross, began her career as a computer programmer at AT&T. She moved up the ranks to become executive vice president for the Consumer Markets Division, a $26 billion business with 40,000 employees. In 1998, McGovern joined Fidelity Investments where she served as president of Fidelity Personal Investments, a unit with 10,000 employees and $500 billion of assets under management.

Four years later, McGovernjoined the faculty of Harvard Business School where she taught marketing. In 2008, she accepted the position of president and CEO of the American Red Cross, a $3 billion organization devoted to alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies.

Since joining the Red Cross, McGovern has helped to transform the 137-year old American institution into a 21st century emergency response and blood services organization. Her transformational initiatives have led to improved fiscal stability, and have expanded the reach of lifesaving Red Cross services. She has also overseen the enormous growth of the organization’s social media presence,  including the introduction of a series of free mobile apps for first aid, hurricanes, tornadoes and other emergency scenarios that put lifesaving skills at people’s fingertips.

McGovern is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where she received an undergraduate degree in quantitative sciences, and Columbia University, where she earned her MBA. She was awarded alumna of the year from both universities.

McGovern was recognized by Fortune Magazine in both 2000 and 2001 as one of the most powerful women in corporate America.

Watch a Clip from McGovern's LSS Talk
 

THOMAS F. FARRELL II

Chairman, President and CEO, Dominion Energy INC. 

Farrell joined Dominion Energy in 1995 and has served in several senior management positions — executive vice president from 1999 to 2003 and president and chief operating officer from 2004 to 2005; in 2006, he was named president and CEO and was elected chairman of the company’s board of directors in 2007.

Under his leadership, Dominion Energy has become one of America’s largest energy companies, with about $100 billion in assets and operations in 18 states. The company has invested more than $2 billion in environmental upgrades to its operating facilities and is committed to providing sustainable, affordable, reliable and safe energy to 2.6 million customer accounts. It is one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of electric generation and natural gas and is one of the nation’s leading solar operators, committed to reducing its carbon intensity 60 percent by 2030. During Farrell’s tenure as CEO, Dominion Energy nearly doubled operating earnings per share and has increased the company’s dividend rate by 150 percent. The company has also tripled its philanthropic giving.

Farrell’s board service is extensive. He is the presiding director of Altria Group Inc. and a member of the board of directors of AEGIS insurance company.

He also serves on the board of directors of the Edison Electric Institute, of which he was chairman from 2011–12, and as chairman of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations.

He is a former rector and member of the University of Virginia board of visitors, past chairman of the board of trustees of the Virginia Business Council, and the former chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Higher Education. He also served on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

In addition, he serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, chairman of the Richmond Performing Arts Center, and a member of the board of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, of which he was chairman.

Farrell is a double Hoo, earning his B.A. in economics and his J.D. in 1979 from the University of Virginia.

Watch a Clip from Farrell's LSS Talk 

 

BOB LANGERT

Former Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, McDonald's 

Bob Langert joined the McDonald’s system in 1983, with management positions in logistics, packaging and purchasing and was appointed McDonald’s first vice president to lead sustainability in 2006. Langert led the development of McDonald’s 2020 Sustainability Vision and Framework, including McDonald’s commitment to the environment, supply chain sustainability, and balanced menu choices. As part of this work, Langert worked with numerous organizations, including Conservation International, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Protection Agency, Greenpeace, PETA and World Wildlife Fund.

Learn more about Langert's visit in The Darden Report.

Watch a Clip from Langert's LSS Talk
 

NATHALIE CORREDOR

Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Hilton Worldwide 

Nathalie Corredor leads the development and implementation of enterprise-wide strategies and initiatives to drive growth and innovation at Hilton Worldwide. Prior to joining Hilton, Corredor spent much of her career working in Silicon Valley as Google’s global head of vertical search ad development and sales and head of sales strategy and operations. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She was also a Fulbright Scholar in South Korea.

Learn more about Corredor's visit in The Darden Report.

Watch a Clip from Corredor's LSS Talk
 

HAL LAWTON (MBA ’00)

President, Macy's INC.

Lawton is responsible for all aspects of the Macy’s brand, including merchandising, marketing, stores, operations, technology and consumer insights and analytics. Previously, Lawton was senior vice president, eBay North America. Prior to eBay, Lawton spent 10 years in various leadership roles at Home Depot, including as senior vice president for merchandising. Lawton was responsible for accelerating the growth of Home Depot’s internet business and building it to nearly $2 billion. Lawton serves on the board of Buffalo Wild Wings Inc., Darden’s Corporate Advisory Board and the board of the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. He holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University in addition to his MBA from Darden.

Learn more about Lawton's visit in The Darden Report.

Watch a Clip from Lawton's LSS Talk
 

JIM LICO 

President and CEO, Fortive 

As Fortive’s founding president and CEO, Lico drives Fortive’s overall vision, drawing on two decades of deep experience at Danaher. Lico is deeply committed to the development of Fortive’s people in a dynamic culture of unending learning and growth. He joined Veeder-Root in 1996 and was tapped for roles of increasing responsibility before being appointed executive vice president and member of the Danaher office of the chief executive. His multi-industry responsibilities focused on test and measurement, transportation technologies, and industrial technologies. Lico has also had corporate responsibility for Danaher Corporate Procurement and served as executive leader for the emerging market regional boards of China, Japan, India and the Middle East. He ran the Danaher Business System (DBS) from 2004–05 and will ensure that its key principles continue to inspire the Fortive Business System. Lico holds a B.S. from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Management from Northwestern University. He lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and three children.

Learn more about Lico's visit in The Darden Report. 

Watch a Clip from Lico's LSS Talk
 

MATTHEW A. KANESS (MBA ’02)

Former President and CEO, Modcloth, INC.

Kaness joined the innovative women’s apparel company ModCloth as CEO in 2015, and helmed the company through a successful sale to Walmart. Previously, he served as chief strategy officer of Urban Outfitters, where he helped engineer significant revenue growth and oversaw a unique approach to an omni-channel customer experience. Prior to Urban Outfitters, Kaness served as a management consultant in the consumer and retail practice of PRTM. In addition to a Darden MBA, he holds an undergraduate engineering degree from Catholic University.

Learn more about Matt's visit in The Darden Report.

 

LEENY OBERG (MCINTIRE ’82)

Executive Vice President and CFO, Marriott 

Oberg joined Marriott as part of its Investor Relations group in 1999 and held a number of roles with a global focus, including senior vice president, international project finance and asset management for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She has served as CFO for Marriott’s Ritz-Carlton brand and was named Marriott’s CFO in 2016. Oberg holds an undergraduate degree from UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

Learn more about Oberg's visit in The Darden Report.

 

JIM MOFFATT

CEO, Deloitte Global Consulting

Since joining the Deloitte U.S. practice in 1987, Moffatt has earned a long-standing reputation for serving clients with distinction from strategy through execution and developing the next generation of leaders. He has served in various senior positions in Deloitte U.S., including serving as chairman and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP from 2011–15. Additionally, Moffatt has authored multiple articles on leadership, innovation, talent management, and mentoring in top tier media outlets including Bloomberg Business Week, Fox Business, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Forbes, CNBC.com, Huffington Post and Consulting magazine.

Learn more about Moffatt's visit to Darden.
 

BARBARA BYRNE

Vice Chairman, Barclays Investment Banking 

Barbara Byrne is a Vice Chairman within the Investment Bank at Barclays. Byrne is a frequent speaker on behalf of women in business, social innovation, finance and leadership. For seven consecutive years, American Banker ranked her as one of the “25 Most Powerful Women in Finance.”

Learn more about Byrne's visit to Darden and don't miss her Ideas to Action article.

 

DR. ULRICH BEZ

Former CEO, Aston Martin

Dr. Ulrich Bez led Aston Martin as Chief Executive Officer from 2000 to 2014 and now serves as a Brand Ambassador for the company. Under Dr. Bez's leadership Aston Martin became a globally recognized luxury and cool brand standing for power, beauty and soul combined with competitive quality and an unmistakable identity. 60,000 cars — more than four times than in the 87 years before — were built and sold in a global network of 150 dealerships.

Learn more about Ulrich's visit to Darden.

TOBIAS DENGEL

CEO, Willowtree 

Tobias Dengel is the CEO of WillowTree, Inc. Prior to WillowTree, Dengel co-founded Leads.com in 2003, based in Northern Virginia. He was at AOL from 1996 to 2003, with his final role as vice president of AOL Local. Dengel holds a B.S. in economics and a B.S. in engineering, both from the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn more about Dengel's visit to Darden.
 

MUHTAR KENT

Chairman and Former CEO, Coca-Cola Company 

Muhtar Kent joined The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1978 and has held a variety of global marketing and operations leadership roles throughout his career. In 2005, Kent was appointed President of Coca-Cola International, responsible for overseeing all operations outside of North America. In 2006, he assumed the role of president and COO and in 2008 was elevated to president and CEO. He was named chairman of the board of directors in 2009 and served as chairman and CEO through April 2017. 

Learn more about Kent's visit to Darden.
 

 

WILLIAM "DAN" DANIEL II (MBA ’91)

Executive Vice President, Danaher 

Dan Daniel is Executive Vice President with Danaher Corporation, a Fortune 150 global science and technology company. For over 11 years, he has led innovation across a broad spectrum of Danaher’s businesses. Prior to Danaher, Daniel spent 19 years with Arvin Industries, which became ArvinMeritor, in a variety of positions including Senior Vice President and President, Light Vehicle Aftermarket. He earned his B.A. from DePauw University and his MBA from Darden in 1991. 

Learn more about Daniel's visit to Darden.

Watch Daniel's LSS Talk
 

JOHN MACKEY

Co-CEO, Whole Foods

John Mackey, co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, has led the natural and organic grocer to a $15 billion Fortune 500 company with more than 435 stores and 85,000 team members in three countries. The company has been included on Fortune magazine’s“100 Best Companies to Work For” list for 18 consecutive years and ranked first in the food and drug store industry as part of the magazine’s “Most Admired Companies” list in 2016.

Learn more about Mackey's visit to Darden.

Watch Mackey's LSS Talk
 

KIM MORRISH (MBA ’93)

Owner and Director, Ground Control

Morrish and her husband are directors and majority shareholders of Ground Control Ltd., the UK’s largest landscaping company with over £100 million in annual turnover. Morrish has launched several start-ups, acquired five businesses and enjoys backing promising entrepreneurs in new ventures. She firmly believes that people are the most important factor in the success of any organization or venture. Morrish holds a B.A. in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the UVA Darden School of Business.

 

If you know someone who belongs on the Darden LSS stage, or if you belong there yourself, we want to hear from you! We are currently reviewing speakers for 2020 and beyond. Please refer to our FAQ area for details on nominating a speaker.

Nominate a Speaker

Answers to frequently asked questions about Darden’s Leadership Speaker Series follow below.

For Nominators

How do I nominate a speaker?

To nominate a featured speaker, please fully complete our speaker nomination form.

Can I suggest someone I do not know personally?

Yes! Please include in your nomination how you learned about this person and why you think he or she should be a featured Leadership Speaker Series guest.

Can I suggest someone I work for or a client of mine?

Yes. Please complete the above nomination form, providing as much information as possible.

Can I suggest myself as a speaker?

Yes. Please complete the above nomination form, providing as much information as possible.

What is the general profile of a LSS speaker?

Our featured speakers are C-suite and senior executive leaders who are excited to share their leadership journeys, their industry expertise and their overall path on how they got to where they are today in a flexible, one-hour format at Darden.

Is there a deadline for nominating a speaker?

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the academic year. Speakers are selected through a nomination process. Darden seeks to develop an 18-plus month speaker pipeline of nominations submitted by the School’s leadership, faculty, students and external community members.

Is LSS open to the public?

Yes, members of the public are welcome to attend. All attendees must register to attend using the registration links provided on the event schedule page.

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For Speakers

What is the purpose of Darden’s Leadership Speaker Series?

Darden’s Leadership Speaker Series provides a forum for individuals to share career lessons learned with Darden and the broader UVA community. Leaders share their personal stories, expertise and advice on leadership in a flexible, one-hour format. For speakers, it offers a rewarding opportunity to reflect upon one’s journey to the C-suite and share advice learned along the way.

What is the format of the presentation?

The event is an hour in length. We ask speakers to prepare 35 minutes of content, allowing the final 25 minutes for questions from the audience — primarily Darden students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

Is there an honorarium?

Darden does not offer an honorarium for our speakers. We provide hotel accommodations and meals for speakers who travel to Darden for LSS. We are committed to creating a Darden experience that is intellectually engaging and beneficial for the speaker, students, faculty, staff and the community.

What type of questions can I expect to be asked?

Questions will be focused on your personal experiences and perspectives on your career path and leadership, such as:

• What was the hardest decision you have had to make during your career?
• How would you describe your own leadership style?
• What skills are you currently trying to acquire and hone?
• How do you practice diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
• How did you discover your passion?
• Can you share with us an example of making a decision that was right for the company but hard on the workforce?
• As students, what will make us better leaders in the future?
• How do you lead through crisis? Could you provide an example?
• What did you do to rebound from a low point in your career?
• What did you personally find to be your greatest career challenge?

Please use our speaker nomination form to nominate a speaker.

If you have questions or comments after reviewing this FAQ, please email [email protected].