View from the Top Speakers: News: Stanford GSB

View from the Top Speaker Series

The student-run speaker series brings well-respected leaders of business and social sector communities to campus to share their views of leadership with student audiences. Speakers discuss their leadership style, personal vision, and strategies for success.

2011 Speakers

Successful Leaders Share Five Traits, Says Ian Davis

Successful leaders share five traits that are more important than where they rank within their organizations, retired McKinsey senior partner Ian Davis told a Stanford MBA audience.

Developing Successful Leaders: DaVita's CEO Says It Takes a Village

Leadership is not something that can easily be taught. Management can be taught, but leadership is a human skill that requires learning about yourself and other human beings, Kent Thiry, CEO of DaVita, told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience.

Leaders Need a High Emotional IQ to Succeed, Says Bill George
Bill George accepted criticism from college classmates and later changed companies to find a more satisfying career, the professor and author told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience.

Broad Experience Gives Iger the Disney Touch

Iger and Disney Have Survived Singing Cops and Moms on Mars.

Ever-Changing Airline Industry Provides Diverse Challenges, United CEO Says

The aviation industry has to navigate through government regulations, natural disasters, economic storms, and labor negotiations, challenges that Jeff Smisek, president and CEO of the world's largest carrier, United Continental Holdings, says he finds fascinating.

Ford Is Adding Jobs, Expanding Says CEO Alan Mulally

The Ford Motor turnaround required tough decisions and labor cooperation but CEO Alan Mulally told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience that he is optimistic about the future.

2010 Speakers

NYSE Chief Says Communication Was the Key in Changing Culture

Modernizing the New York Stock Exchange required extensive communication efforts with employees, Duncan Niederauer, the CEO of NYSE Euronext, told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience. "And when we were pretty sure we'd over-communicated, we communicated a little bit more." A digest of the latest news from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Carlos Brito: Corporate Success Depends on Individual Employees

As head of the world’s largest beer marketer, Carlos Brito of InBev says success of a corporation hinges on hiring high-performing individuals, who bring passion and commitment to the job, and on building a company culture that keeps them.

Löscher: Siemens Needed a New Corporate Ethic

Siemens AG needed a new set of corporate leaders and standards to recover from one of the worst scandals in corporate history, says Peter Löscher, the CEO brought in to reform the firm.

A Dream and a Way to Solve a Problem Are the Path to Sequoia Capital's Door

The venture giant Sequoia Capital doesn't spend time or dollars developing markets, says founder Don Valentine. Rather it's interested in what kind of problems entrepreneurs are solving — and what they can contribute to markets Sequoia is invested in.

Jeff Immelt, CEO and Chairman of General Electric: Pushing Change Can Be Unpopular

Today's business leaders must gird themselves for an increasingly turbulent business world, Jeff Immelt, chairman and CEO of General Electric, told MBA students. Pushing for change rarely makes you popular with investors or employees.

Reckford of Habitat for Humanity Follows His Faith and His Heart

His career has taken Jonathan Reckford, MBA ’89, from corporate leadership to his current post as chief executive officer with global nonprofit Habitat for Humanity. His success, he says, comes from following his faith and his heart.

"Take Better Care of the World," Challenges Ted Turner

Ted Turner, who 30 years ago heralded the Information Age by founding CNN, has turned his focus to the development of ways to stop global warming, encourage energy conservation, and stem population growth. He challenged MBA students to find solutions because "We’ve got to take better care of the planet."

Understanding Reality Leads to Success, Says Chenault of Amex

Even when the news is bad, helping employees understand reality leads to success, American Express CEO and Chairman Kenneth Chenault told a business school audience.

Despite Costs, Outcome in Iraq Has Been Worth It Says Condoleezza Rice

Former Secretary of State and current Stanford faculty member Condoleezza Rice looks back at lessons learned and consequences of Middle East policy decisions of the Bush Administration.

Whole Foods' John Mackey Is Out to Change American Business

John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods Market chain, has loftier goals than getting Americans to eat healthy foods, one of the missions of his grocery empire. He is out to change American business as well, putting it on the path to higher consciousness.

Electric Cars Are Alive and Well, Says Carlos Ghosn

The electric car, a vehicle that was practically gone before it arrived, is anything but dead, Carlos Ghosn, the widely celebrated CEO of both Nissan and Renault, told a Stanford Graduate School of Business audience.

2009 Speakers

Best Entrepreneurs Attempt the Impossible Says John Doerr

The best entrepreneurs have a thirst for knowledge and may be willing to attempt the impossible, venture capitalist John Doerr told a student audience.

The Right Decisions Aren't Always Easy, Says Avon's Jung

Andrea Jung stuck with a company she loved. Today, she's turning heads, as Avon's CEO. The firm is a success story in a brutal economic climate.

Culture and People Made the Difference Says Kovacevich

Success in the business world is less about brains and more about developing people, Richard Kovacevich, MBA '67, chairman of Wells Fargo, told a View from the Top audience.

Credit Card Pioneer Fairbank Recalls the Early Days

As founder of Capital One Financial Corp., Richard Fairbank revolutionized the credit card industry with teaser rates and zero-balance transfers. But in the beginning he recalls, he had "no money, no experience, and no ideas."

September 11 Attacks Changed FBI Focus

Today the Federal Bureau of Investigation is more focused on counterterrorism around the world than on racking up big numbers of arrests FBI Director Robert Mueller told a student audience.

What's It Like to be the Boss of the "Most Interesting Man in the World?"

He's suave, he's wise, and his advice is always: 'Stay thirsty, my friends.' Jose Antonio Fernandez, chairman and CEO of FEMSA, the largest bottler in Latin America, is the man behind the ad campaign featuring The Most Interesting Man in the World.

Leadership Means Responsibility

In his View from the Top speech, Dean Robert Joss defines what it means to be "at the top": "It's any position where you take responsibility for a group with a mission to fulfill."

SEIU Head Urges Unions: Join Today's Economic Revolution

"No single generation has ever witnessed so much change in a lifetime," SEIU President Andy Stern told a Business School audience, and unions must be part of that change.

Google's Schmidt: 2009 is a Good Year to Be a New Graduate

Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt told a Business School audience 2009 is a good time to be graduating. "Assets are cheap and expectations are set realistically. . . .Change happens when things are hard."

BP CEO Hayward: Entrepreneurial Spirit Still Needed

Amid the economic crisis, Tony Hayward, CEO of BP, is still optimistic, looking to the entrepreneurial spirit to help lift the world from its recession. Hayward also shared with GSB students his leadership experiences and challenges from his career.

Gates CEO Jeff Raikes: Have a Plan But Be Flexible

Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes has taken a circuitous path to lead one of the world's largest philanthropic organizations. He started out on the farm then fell in love with software development. As his father advised, he's flexible.

Brenda Barnes Champions Women Returning to The Work Force

Brenda Barnes has broken a lot of stereotypes as the CEO of Sara Lee Corp., including making sure corporate America is aware of the hidden talents of women who once stayed at home but who today want to re-enter the work force.

Risk Taking is Necessary Says Dimon of JP Morgan Chase
Risk-taking has to be calculated, says Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase. "You've got to decide what you want to do and what happens if it goes wrong." Any CEO worth his salary knows, "The business takes place in the detail."

2008 Speakers

Market Stresses Won't Halt Saudi Arabian Oil's Market Dominance, says CEO Jum'ah
The leader of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, the world's largest producer of crude oil, says he doubts that either the current instability of world financial markets or a U. S. push toward oil independence will stop his company's growth.

Developing Nations Offer Big Market Opportunities,
Says Intel's Otellini

Intel CEO Paul Otellini, has spent over 30 years shaping the chipmaker as well as his own career. What does the future hold? How about cell phones in Africa and the computer market in China?

Government Testing New Ways to Avoid Foreclosures,
Says HUD Secretary Preston

Housing Secretary Steven Preston acknowledged the current economic turmoil is 'a time in history like no other,' but added it's also an opportunity to solve problems in ways that have not been attempted before.

Microsoft's Ballmer Says Nurturing Innovation and Top Talent Are Priorities
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer tells Stanford MBA students how his leadership style has evolved. If he could change one decision he made since becoming CEO, Ballmer said he'd have pushed the company to start developing internet search products years earlier.

Fill Classrooms With Experienced Teachers

In creating Teach For America, Wendy Kopp wanted to get the brightest young college graduates into the classroom to raise the bar for low-income students. Today, there are 5,000 corps members at work.

No Near-Term Alternatives to Oil, Says Chevron's O'Reilly

'Energy is not a God-given right,' Chevron Chairman David O'Reilly cautioned a Business School audience. Coming up quickly with alternatives to oil will be nearly impossible, because the amount of energy required globally is so huge.

Roberts Sees Light Even in a Down Market

George Roberts, who 30 years ago founded Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co. with two partners and $120,000, told a student audience he took the chance on the new company because 'if I didn't do it, I would always look back and say I missed an opportunity'.

InBev Practices No-Frills Approach to Corporate Leadership

Developing a cohesive corporate culture that trains leaders from the ground up and rewards strong performers based on merit is an important ingredient in financial success said Carlos Brito, chief executive officer of the Belgium-based company InBev, the world's second-largest brewer.

Give Yourself Sound Career Advice says Ellis of Bain & Co.

Bain & Co. worldwide managing director Stephen Ellis, MBA '90, urged students to have a clear understanding of their own strengths, weaknesses, passions, and motivations to guide their career paths in the right directions.

2007 Speakers

Ghosn Keeps Nissan-Renault in the Fast Lane
Vehicle sales in the United States, Europe, and Japan are either stable or declining, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan and Renault told a Business School audience. So he is looking to new markets such as India, Russia, China, Brazil, and Africa—where sales are expanding an average 20 percent annually.

Successful CEOs Have Work With Passion Says
Capital One's Fairbank
If you want to run a business, forget about what's in your wallet. Richard Fairbank, chief executive of Capital One Financial Corp. wants to know what's in your heart. (November 2007)

Continental CEO Kellner Bets the Business on Being On Time
Continental Airlines progressed from bankruptcy to a top-ranked on-time U.S. airline under a plan to concentrate on making customers happy and employees functioning like a team, says Larry Kellner, the firm's CEO. (October 2007)

Leadership Is In the Eyes of the Led
Well-run companies may or may not have great leaders, Kent Thiry of DaVita Inc. told business students. To lead his firm Thiry focused on team building and created a corporate culture focused on commitment, communication, and accountability. (October 2007)

View from the Top: Be Sure You Really Want Honest Answers, Advises Jeffrey Bewkes
Leaders depend on the advice they get from people around them, says Time Warner COO Jeffrey Bewkes. So it's important they are open to honest answers, not a reply designed to keep lower level employees out of trouble. (May 2007)
Jeffrey Bewkes video, (53:17 minutes)

View from the Top: A Pitch for Deeper Green Thinking from Venture Capitalist John Doerr
Venture capitalist John Doerr doesn't believe the world's population will change its wasteful ways in time to stop global warming, he told an overflow audience at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. But, ever the optimist, he urged MBA students to make it a priority. (March 2007)
John Doerr video, (54 minutes)

View from the Top: The CEO Must Steer the Corporate Culture, Says Steve Ballmer
Personnel issues and new business models are two of the few things he occasionally loses sleep over, says Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. (March 2007)
Steve Ballmer, (1:03 hour)

If It's India They Must Be Lentil Chips
Curry lentil snacks in India, chili lime in Mexico. The chairman of PepsiCo International says he would rather follow local tastes than force an unwanted flavor on a market. (March 2007)
Michael White, (51:31 minutes)

Pharmaceuticals Outshine Band-Aids for Johnson & Johnson
Putting customers first has paid off for Johnson & Johnson, says Chairman and CEO William Weldon. A single $35 share of the firm's stock purchased in 1944 is now worth more than $500,000. (February 2007)
Video File, (52:18 minutes)

2006 Speakers

SanDisk's Harari: Expensive Mistakes Become Pearls of Wisdom
Focusing on one thing and doing it well was an important lesson for Eli Harari, a founder of SanDisk, and the man who helped to usher in flash memory technology. (October 2006)
Video File, (53:03 minutes)

Failure Is Important, Says Indian Tech Leader
Failure is an essential part of the innovative process, says Azim Premji, chairman of the Indian outsourcing giant Wipro Technologies: It is impossible to generate a few good ideas without a lot of bad ideas. Failure should be forgiven and forgotten quickly. (October 2006)
Video File, (47:22 minutes)

Ken Mehlman Changed the Way Republicans Target Voters
The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ken Mehlman took a page from major credit card companies and other marketers in changing the way his party targeted voters in the 2004 Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. (October 2006)
Video File, (25:45 minutes)

Do What You Love, Not What Pays the Most, Says Google's Kordestani
Pursue what inspires you; don't follow the money, Omid Kordestani told a Business School audience. He took his own advice when he became the 12th employee of a startup firm called Google to pursue his passion for growing small businesses. (September 2006)
Video File, (48:55 minutes)

View from the Top: David Geffen Says Good Instincts Play Better for Him Than Good Plans
Legendary film and record producer David Geffen told Graduate School of Business students he relies on his instincts, his key eye for talent, honesty, and a knack for surrounding himself with smart people to create wealth for his clients and investors. (June 2006)

eBay's 193 Million Users Like to Speak Up, Says Whitman
The price of inaction is far higher than the cost of a mistake, Meg Whitman, president and CEO of eBay, told a Stanford Business School audience. (May 2006)
Video File, (52:53 minutes)

Empowering Workers Is the Key, Say Infosys Executives
Executives who want innovation and commitment from employees must model risk-taking and personal sacrifice in order to gain credibility and motivate employees, say two leading Indian entrepreneurs. (May 2006)
Video File, (44:03 minutes)

Southwest Airlines' Kelleher Advises Managing in Good Times for the Bad
In the “horrible” business of airlines, Southwest cofounder Herb Kelleher credits his company's success to planning for bad times and encouraging unconventional thinking. (April 2006)
Video File, (50:04 minutes)

Chinese Consumers Likely to Set Product Standards in Future, Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin Says
Arun Sarin, CEO of Vodafone, the company better known as Verizon in the United States, says the sheer size of China means its consumers will replace Americans as the customers who set product standards in the future. (April 2006)
Video File, (56:38 minutes)

Sports and Entertainment Exec Sheila Johnson Shares Her Passions
Sheila Johnson, who built her fortune as co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, says being successful pales in comparison to the process of working toward success. (February 2006)

Commerce Secretary Promotes Competitiveness Initiative
U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez told Business School students he is confident the country will outstrip competitors such as China and India in world markets. He spoke as part of the student View from the Top Speaker series. (February 2006)

Carlos Ghosn: Nissan and Renault Partnership Benefits from Differences
Getting employees to work together to produce products that are attractive to customers is the key to success in 21st century business, says Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan and Renault. (February 2006)

2005 Speakers

Effective Leaders Made, Not Born, Colin Powell Says
Successful leaders know how to define their mission, convey it to their subordinates and ensure they have the right tools and training needed to get the job done, according to Colin Powell, former U.S. secretary of state. (November 2005)

Offshoring Means New Challenges for Promoting Managers
Globalization is having a visible impact on corporations around the world by creating challenges in promoting and building top management teams, Ian Davis, managing director of McKinsey & Co., told a Business School audience. (November 2005)

Capital One's Fairbank Offers a Recipe for Building a Successful Business
Richard Fairbank, MBA '81, says leadership skills and an ability to understand market forces and roll with the punches are key to the success of any entrepreneurial pursuit. (September 2005)

Corporate Vision Key to Creating Shareholder Value, Says John Browne of BP
A successful corporation must keep its own sense of purpose firmly in view to be successful at creating shareholder value said John Browne, Sloan '81, who heads the global energy giant BP. (May 2005)

Ballmer Foresees Growth in Information Management Technology
The software industry will witness more growth over the next five years than it has over the past decade, says Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, with the greatest innovations coming in information management technology. (May 2005)

World Economies Are Rebalancing, Says International Banker John Bond
Technology is fast bridging geographical and economic barriers, empowering the people in some or the world's poorest countries, and transforming the ways corporations make money says, Sir John Bond, Group Chairman of HSBC, the international bank with 10,000 offices in 78 industrialized and developing nations. (April 2005)

Create Candor in the Workplace, Says Jack Welch
There is a remarkable lack of candor in the workplace today, says Jack Welch, the man who led General Electric for some 20 years, and it's slowing down corporate progress. "Encourage candor," he advised a Business School audience. "If you reward candor, you'll get it." (April 2005)
Video File, (1:03 hour)

It's Not Easy Earning Green, Agree Top Women Execs
Juggling work and family priorities is no longer a women's issue, say three women executives. Every executive needs to have clear personal and professional goals to avoid letting the job run his or her life. (April 2005)

Good Entrepreneurs Are Missionaries, Says John Doerr
Successful entrepreneurs are passionate about what they do, they're in it for the long haul, and they build noisy places where the best ideas stand a good chance of making it to the top, John Doerr, the venture capitalist who spotted infant firms like Sun, Intel, and Google, told a Stanford Business School audience.

Mulcahy Took a No-Nonsense Approach to Turn Xerox Around
Anne Mulcahy faced the real possibility of corporate bankruptcy when she took over as CEO of Xerox Corp. So she spent 90 days listening and asking questions.

Move Swiftly and Set a Good Example Says Kraft CEO Deromedi
Within three weeks of being named Kraft Foods CEO, Roger Deromedi rolled out a new organizational structure, updated the mission statement, and presented a global strategy. For leaders of large companies, the toughest question is "can you run fast enough?"

Nardelli Describes Remodeling Home Depot
Knowing where customers and trends are going and spotting the technology to stay ahead are two of the keys Home Depot CEO Bob Nardelli credits for the impressive turnaround of the home improvement giant.

Think Strategy and Think Big, Says Corporate Leader
Coming up with a new corporate strategy and sticking to it made a huge difference for Vans Inc., the domestic sports shoe manufacturer, according to Gary Schoenfeld, MBA '88, who presided over the firm's turnaround as president and CEO.

2004 Speakers

Jeff Bewkes, MBA '77
Chairman, Entertainment and Networks Group, Time Warner
Manage Out, Not Up, for Success in Corporate America, Says Time Warner's Bewkes (May 2004)

Steven Reinemund
Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo Inc.
A More Diverse Workforce Is Good for Business at PepsiCo (May 2004)

Wendy Kopp
Founder, Teach for America
Teach for America is Building a Corps of Education Advocates (April 2004)

Bill George
Author, "Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value"
Becoming a Leader of Heart and Soul (April 2004)

Al Gore
Former Vice President
Gore Tells MBA Audience "Be More Active in Environment" (March 2004)

James Wolfensohn
President, World Bank
World Bank President Highlights the New Debt Debate (March 2004)

Leonard Lauder
Chairman, Estee Lauder Companies
A Family Affair at the Estee Lauder Companies
"We're not a family business, we're a family in business," Leonard Lauder told a Business School audience. (March 2004)

Richard Wagoner Jr.
Chairman and CEO, General Motors
General Motors Stays Limber by Being Global (February 2004)

Steve Bennett
President and CEO, Intuit
Selling a Shared Vision is Key to Leadership Success, Says Intuit's Bennett (November 2003)

Bob Scott, MBA '70
COO and President, Morgan Stanley (now retired)
Leadership is a Journey, Says Morgan Stanley's Bob Scott (November 2003)

Bruce Chizen
CEO of Adobe
Today's Technology Must Do More than Merely Dazzle

Jeff Bezos
CEO, Amazon.com
Customer Focus Keeps Amazon Experimenting, Bezos Says

Timothy Ling, MBA '89
COO, Unocal (now deceased)
Unocal President Discusses Leadership (September 2003)

Earlier View from the Top Speakers

Steve Miller, MBA '68
CEO, Bethlehelm Steel (since left the post)
Bethlehelm Steel Is Just the Latest Project For Turnaround King

Sidney Taurel
Chairman, President, and CEO, Eli Lilly & Co.
High Stakes in Generic Drug Battle

Carlos Ghosn
President and CEO, Nissan Motor Company
Turnaround Hero

Louis V. Gerstner
Chairman and CEO, IBM Corp. (since retired)
Bringing IBM Back to Health

Gordon Bethune
Chairman and CEO, Continental Airlines
Change or Run Out of Gas

Sir Deryck Maughan, Sloan '79
Vice Chairman, Citigroup
CitiGroup's Global Strategies

Jeroen Van der Veer
Vice Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell
Sustainable Leadership Requires Listening Skills

Ann Livermore, MBA '82
Executive Vice President, Hewlett Packard
Hewlett Packard/Compaq Benefited from Merger

Anne Sweeney
President, ABC Cable Networks Group
Disney Battles Soap Opera Super Bowl

Steve Jobs
CEO, Apple and Pixar
Jobs Sings a New Tune

Donna Dubinsky
Founder and CEO, Handspring
Handheld Computing Being Reborn

George Shultz
Former U.S. Secretary of State
Understanding, Credibility, and Setting Reasonable Goals are Key to International Negotiation Success

Jeff Immelt
CEO, General Electric
GE's Prospects for the Future

John Browne, Sloan '81
Group Chief Executive, British Petroleum
BP Beats Greenhouse Gas Target by Eight Years

Hank McKinnell, Sloan '66, MBA '67, PhD '69
CEO, Pfizer Inc.
Unrecognized Side Effects of Viagra

Ted Forstmann,
Senior Founding Partner, Forstmann Little & Co.

Thomas Weisel
Founder, CEO, and Chairman, Thomas Weisel Partners

Jorma Ollila
Chairman and CEO, Nokia

Thomas Middelhoff
Chairman and CEO, Bertelsmann

Richard Wagoner
CEO, General Motors

Michael Crooke
CEO, Patagonia

Scott McNealy, MBA '80
CEO, Sun Microsystems

Steve Ballmer, MBA '81
President, CEO, Microsoft

Jeff Bezos
Founder, CEO Amazon.com

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