Leaders on Leadership

A Fireside Chat Speaker Series

The Cox School is launching an Executive Leadership Speaker Series for the 2023-2024 academic year to help spotlight our emphasis on leadership as a core pillar of our business school curriculum. The complimentary series will be conducted in a fireside chat format moderated by SMU Cox Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Executive Education Shane Goodwin. We seek to invite speakers from a range of industries and fields who will share their leadership journeys to help inspire current and future leaders in the audience.

You are invited to be inspired. Join us to hear exceptional leaders share their stories, insights, and wisdom from their leadership path, so you can forge yours. 

  • Why Leadership?

    Leadership ability is a critical component of employee and organizational success. However, the overwhelming consensus among employers is that too many business professionals lack critical-thinking skills to solve unstructured problems creatively, the ability to communicate effectively, work collaboratively and adapt to changing priorities.

    In collaboration with our corporate partners, we invite you to join us for fireside chats with stand-out leaders that will leave you inspired. Speakers will share how they approach ambiguity, face critical decisions, keep their team motivated, adapt to rapid innovation, and maintain professional and personal growth.

    The audience will leave with concrete takeaways to forge their own leadership style.

  • 2023-24 Events

    Events are complimentary and open to students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the business community at every leadership level. Seating is limited to the first 300 registrants. 

    Whitney Wolfe Herd

    Founder, Bumble

    April 24, 2024 
    5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Networking Hour to Follow
    Hughes-Trigg Student Center

    Register to Attend

     

    Kelvin Beachum

    Offensive Tackle, Arizona Cardinals; Philanthropist; SMU Alum

    April 25, 2024 
    5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Reception to Follow
    Frances Ann Moody Hall - Auditorium

    Register to Attend

     

    —

    Previous speakers include:

    Lori Ryerkerk

    CEO and President, Celanese

    March 25, 2024 
    5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Reception to Follow
    SMU Cox Collins Center, Crum Auditorium 
    3150 Binkley Avenue 

     

    Jean Savage

    CEO, Trinity Industries
    March 20, 2024 
    5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Reception to Follow
    SMU Cox Collins Center, Crum Auditorium 
    3150 Binkley Avenue 

     

    R. Gerald Turner

    President, SMU

    Febuary 15, 2024 
    5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Reception to Follow
    SMU Cox Collins Center, Crum Auditorium 
    3150 Binkley Avenue

     

    Ken Hersh

    Chief Executive Officer and President, George W. Bush Presidential Center 

    January 24, 2024 
    5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Reception to Follow
    SMU Cox Collins Center, Crum Auditorium 
    3150 Binkley Avenue


    Admiral Patrick Walsh 

    United States Navy  

    October 26, 2023 
    5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Reception to Follow
    SMU Cox Collins Center, Crum Auditorium 
    3150 Binkley Avenue

    Troy Aikman 

    Founder, Eight Beer; Former Quarterback for Dallas Cowboys 

    October 25, 2023 
    5 p.m. – 6 p.m.  – Reception to Follow
    SMU Cox Collins Center, Crum Auditorium 
    3150 Binkley Avenue

    Craig Kessler 

    Chief Operating Officer, PGA 

    September 14, 2023 
    5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Reception to Follow
    SMU Cox Collins Center, Crum Auditorium 
    3150 Binkley Avenue 

  • Leadership and Learning Culture

    The NextGen Cox Curriculum integrates the three foundational pillars to develop business school graduates who are “future prepared”. Cox graduates demonstrate both technical skills, and people skills to confidently navigate any business environment. Cox graduates are equipped with a curriculum anchored in analytical rigor, refined leadership skills to support complex problem-solving and knowledge with practical application gained through hands-on experiential learning. 

    Read more about our NextGen Curriculum here.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau