Roanak Desai Memorial View From The Top
2012-13: Kenneth Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express
American Express Chairman and CEO, Ken Chenault, worked at American Express since 1981 and assumed the role as CEO and Chairman in 2001. When he was here in 2010, he spoke with students about how to build a culture of performance and loyalty and leading through crisis. Chenault was interviewed by Roanak Desai. Ken Chenault will give the annual Roanak Desai Memorial on May 14, 2013 from noon to 1 PM in CEMEX Auditorium. View the video of his 2010 visit.
2011-12: Vikram Pandit, CEO, Citigroup, Inc.
Vikram Pandit was born in Nagpur, India, studied in Mumbai, and then moved to the US to complete his schooling when he was 16. After earning a Ph.D. in finance from Columbia, he joined Morgan Stanley and rose to senior leadership positions. He joined Citi when the company acquired the hedge fund he founded in 2007. That same year, Pandit was named Citi’s CEO, as the global economic crisis was beginning to unfold. Pandit gave the 3rd annual Roanak Desai Memorial on April 30, 2012. View the video.
2010-11: Robert Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company
As the President and CEO of the world's largest media conglomerate, Mr. Iger oversees a movie, television, and lifestyle entertainment empire. He is responsible for the $7.4B Pixar acquisition, the Chinese Government's approval of a Disney Shanghai Theme Park, as well as the turnaround of a corporate culture. His leadership in both the public and private sectors has earned him the respect of people and organizations worldwide. Iger gave the 2nd annual Roanak Desai Memorial on May 24, 2011. Read more.
2009-10: Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO, GE
Roanak previously worked at General Electric and Genpact and as a member of the View From The Top Committee was instrumental in bringing Immelt to the Stanford GSB. Roanak viewed Immelt as a leader who his classmates could learn from, through his leadership style, perspective and values. Jeff Immelt delivered the inaugural Roanak Desai Memorial on May 25, 2010. View the video.
Contact: If your organization's most senior-level leader would like to participate in the series, please contact Lynn Santopietro.
Roanak, during a View From The Top event, interviewing American Express CEO, Kenneth Chennault.
Roanak Desai (1978-2010) was an integral member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business class of 2010. Through his positive spirit, warm humor, generosity, leadership, and intellectual curiosity, Roanak embodied what the GSB represents. He was clearly on a path to have impact, and change lives, change organizations and change the world.
Roanak was selected by his peers as the 2010 Ernest C. Arbuckle Award recipient. This award is presented to a second-year MBA student who, by his or her active participation, initiative, leadership and personal integrity, is judged as having contributed most to the fulfillment of the goals of the Graduate School of Business in his or her actions both within school and society.