Leaders Share Breakfast and Business with MBA Students
Georgetown University McDonough School of Business kicked off the first half of its 2009-2010 MBA Leaders Breakfast series in September. Thirteen executives are on the fall schedule to join the school’s MBA Full-time and MBA Evening Program students for breakfast and a conversation about leadership.
Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, former president of The George Washington University, inaugurated the series on Monday, Sept. 21. During his talk, Trachtenberg commented, “Leadership is a people-to-people skill. It’s an emotional ability to persuade and motivate people.”
On Sept. 23, Carl Grant, senior vice president of business development for Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, told students, “You will learn more from your failures than from your successes.” He also advised them to build their personal and professional network and to help their fellow students. “Seek ways to do favors for others, without expecting anything in return,” he said.
Jim Dinegar, president and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, talked to students on Sept. 30 about the business opportunities available to them in the D.C. area. He suggested the students “focus your interests on what you can do well, and get to know people and make connections.”
On Oct. 5, Anne-Marie Pålsson, a member of the Swedish Parliament and an economics professor at Lund University in Sweden, discussed the role of business women in Sweden and the support systems that are in place for working families. She noted that the Swedish Parliament is composed of 50 percent women, which she attributes to the country’s support for women in business.
Most recently, on October 7, Geeta Rao Gupa, president of the International Center for Research on Women, discussed the disparities that exist in gender equality around the world. Like Grant, she told students to “identify your passion, but don’t be rigid about which path to take for that passion.” She advised them to be flexible and to “go one step beyond your task and do whatever job you are given very well.”
The series continues in November and December with John Kane, president and CEO of Kane Construction; David Thompson, chairman and CEO of Orbital Sciences; Dr. Joy Drass, president of Georgetown University Hospital; Stephen Hills, president and general manager of Washington Post Media; Ken Mehlman, managing director and head of Global Public Affairs for Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, LLP; Michael Phelps, CEO of The Washington-Baltimore Examiner Newspaper Group; Kevin Genirs, managing director of Barclay’s Capital; Karen Riordan, managing partner and President of Arnold DC; and Michel Psaros, managing principal of KPS Special Situations Fund.
