Leadership


Conference Draws Leadership Superstars

Robin Roberts, Co-Anchor, ABC "Good Morning America," delivers the keynote presentation. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
Robin Roberts, Co-Anchor, ABC “Good Morning America,” delivers the keynote presentation. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

A tidal wave of change is bearing down on business, and many of the traditional leadership structures that have worked so well in the past are breaking down.

Yet after interviewing business icons, U.S. Presidents, the Pope, and many other powerful leaders, Alan Murray, the first speaker at the Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference, offered some guidelines for surviving and thriving in this rapidly and profoundly changing business climate. Continue Reading


Auriemma Leadership Conference Adds Speakers to Impressive Lineup

Additional speakers have been added to the lineup for the Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference.
Additional speakers have been added to the lineup for the Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference.

The Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference has announced its full lineup of speakers for the April 17-18 event. Continue Reading


Business School Hosts NYC Alumni Event

Leading in Turbulent Times (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for GLG)
Managing Director and Head of Business Development at GLG Patrick Donegan chats with UConn School of Business Dean John Elliott (left) and others at “Leading in Turbulent Times.” The event was presented by GLG and UConn School of Business at GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group) on November 15, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for GLG)

Panelists: ‘Turbulent Times’ Provide Opportunities for Leaders to Emerge

Former U.S. Navy SEAL commander David Cooper knows a few things about leading in turbulent times.

Cooper served the elite unit for 25 years, ventured on dozens of dangerous deployments, and earned an array of medals, including one Silver Star and six Bronze Stars.

So when he talked about the U.S. Navy Seals’ 10-year manhunt for Osama bin Laden, and his killing in May 2011, the audience of UConn graduate business students, alumni and friends were engrossed. Continue Reading



CIOs Ask Daily: What’s Next in Business?

CIO panelists from Synchrony Financial, FactSet, and Stanley Black & Decker talk about Leading Digital Transformation (Katherine Ruiz/UConn School of Business)
CIO panelists from Synchrony Financial, FactSet, and Stanley Black & Decker talk about Leading Digital Transformation (Katherine Ruiz/UConn School of Business)

Whether their business is customer service, manufacturing of tools, or software and analytics, corporate chief information officers are always focused on the next “best technology.”

That was the message from the UConn School of Business-sponsored program on Nov. 7 titled, “Leading Digital Transformation,” at the Stamford campus. Panelists included Carol Juel of Synchrony Financial, Cindy Finkelman of FactSet and Lori Groth of Stanley Black & Decker. The program was moderated by Sulin Ba, associate dean.

All three presenters talked about the rapid pace of business today and that their companies must quickly adapt to digital transformations ranging from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence to employee recruitment.


Challenging but Worthwhile Role Play Event

I attended the Professional Sales Leadership (PSL) Role Play Networking event with Mary Caravella’s Professional Selling course and Bill Ryan’s Sales Leadership course in late October. Employers, faculty, and students from both the Professional Selling and Sales Leadership courses attended this event in order to enhance students’ communication skills. Continue Reading


The Courage to Say ‘No’

Air travel is no longer glamorous and sometimes, well, often, just annoying – too many people on oversold flights, crammed into tight spaces, and fighting over whether it is OK to put a seat back.

Add to this weather delays, mechanical problems, TSA screenings, and having to pay for every little extra, and it is not surprising that the flying passenger is no longer a happy, friendly person. Continue Reading


Coaches, Leading and Talent

Some may not like sports as a metaphor for life, and if you fall in that category, you might want to stop here.  But I think it can be useful, and I want to talk about three examples in sport and draw inferences to life.

I am the dean of the business school at UConn, so not surprisingly, I cite our Geno Auriemma as an example of leadership of the highest order.  Geno has coached the women’s basketball team since 1985 and, in the process, has garnered 10 NCAA championships. His championship record is unsurpassed among women’s coaches, and tied with legendary UCLA men’s coach John Wooden.  Geno headlines the “Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference’’ and invariably talks about his experiences as a coach, and the teams he has been privileged to train. Continue Reading