Speakers participate in a virtual fireside chat and open Q&A with college students to inspire them to be ethical and trustworthy future leaders in finance. This is an opportunity for you to share your story, values, and principles that led to your career success, all while remaining ethical and doing the right thing.
Speaking is highly rewarding, deeply impactful, and easy to engage with as an executive.
Be A Speaker
SPEAK TO CHAPTERS
Each of our chapters hosts speaking events each semester in order to foster community and learn from values-based professionals.
Past Speakers
Emily Alejos, CFA is a Senior Managing Director and the Chief Investment Officer of Cartica. She is also a member of the Investment Committee.
Prior to joining Cartica, Ms. Alejos was with Tradewinds Global Investors from 2007 to 2016. She started her tenure at Tradewinds as a Consumer Analyst and Portfolio Manager and was promoted to Co-Chief Investment Officer and Executive Managing Director in 2012. As Co-CIO she was responsible for leading and managing the investment side of the $3.5 bn in AUM business. She was a member of the Executive team and served on the Board of Directors reporting to Nuveen Investments.
Prior to joining Tradewinds, Ms. Alejos was with Credit Suisse Asset Management in New York from 1997 to 2006. From 2004 to 2006, Ms. Alejos was a Director and Portfolio Manager/Analyst on the firm’s International Focus team. For the seven years prior to that, she served as Portfolio Manager and Head of Latin American Equities, in addition to serving as a senior member of the firm’s Global Emerging Markets team. She began her career as an Equity Analyst at GT Capital in San Francisco then as a Portfolio Manager/Analyst at Bankers Trust in New York.
Ms. Alejos earned a BA degree with honors in Economics and Development studies from Brown University and an MBA and a Certificate in Public Management from Stanford Graduate School of Business. She also studied economics at Instituto di Tella in Buenos Aires as a Rotary Scholar and at L’Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris. Ms. Alejos is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the Asia Society and the CFA Institute. She is conversant in French and Spanish. Ms. Alejos serves on the Global Management Board of the Women’s Circles at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She also mentors graduating senior women at Brown University as part of the Women’s Launchpad program. Emily is married and has two children.
Sheila Bair has had a long and distinguished career in government, academia, and finance. Twice named by Forbes Magazine as the second most powerful woman in the world, she is perhaps best known as chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) from 2006 to 2011, when she steered the agency through the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
A former finance professor and college president, Ms. Bair has been nationally recognized for her innovative initiatives to make college more accessible and affordable to all students. She is a frequent commentator and op-ed contributor on financial regulation and the student debt crisis, as well as author of the NY Times Best Seller, Bull by the Horns, her 2012 memoir of the financial crisis.
She is a founding director of the Volcker Alliance, established by Former Federal Reserve Board Chair Paul Volcker to build trust in government and is the founding chair of the Systemic Risk Council, which advocates for financial stability.
Anne Black is a creative and entrepreneurial philanthropy leader with more than ten years of executive experience at Goldman Sachs Foundation and Goldman Sachs Gives. She focuses on driving change and new ideas that benefit society while also building the firm's brand and culture. Anne Black worked at the forefront of strategic philanthropy and social impact at a time of great change in our world and in this sector. CSR and ESG initiatives have become essential in business, and she has collaborated with top corporate executives, clients and thought leaders who have sought her expertise to understand the trends shaping society and how philanthropy can create a better future and have lasting impact.
Mr. Cecere is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Bancorp. Mr. Cecere, 57, has served as President of U.S. Bancorp since January 2016, Chief Executive Officer since April 2017 and Chairman since April 2018. He also served as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer from January 2015 to January 2016 and was U.S. Bancorp’s Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer from February 2007 until January 2015. Until that time, he served as Vice Chairman, Wealth Management and Investment Services of U.S. Bancorp since the merger of Firstar Corporation and U.S. Bancorp in February 2001. Previously, he had served as an executive officer of the former U.S. Bancorp, including as Chief Financial Officer from May 2000 through February 2001.
Frank Chen is a partner at the venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz. Before joining Andreessen Horowitz, Frank was the VP of products at Opsware. During his tenure there, he gained expertise in enterprise software development and sales, product marketing, change management, and competitive strategies.
Prior to that, he was a director of client services at Loudcloud, where he ran data center operations for name “brand customers including Fox Sports, Nike, Fandango.com and Blockbuster.
Prior to Loudcloud, Frank worked for Respond.com, where he led consumer web services as a VP of products & UI design. He also served as a director of product management at Netscape.
Prior to that, he was a product manager at Oracle. Earlier in his career, Frank was also technical writer for GO Corporation. Frank received his bachelor of science degree in symbolic systems from Stanford University.
Mr. Dolan is Vice Chair and Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Bancorp. Mr. Dolan, 56, has served in this position since August 2016. From July 2010 to July 2016, he served as Vice Chair, Wealth Management and Investment Services, of U.S. Bancorp. From September 1998 to July 2010, Mr. Dolan served as U.S. Bancorp's Controller. He additionally held the title of Executive Vice President from January 2002 until June 2010 and Senior Vice President from September 1998 until January 2002.
Debbie Heard is a managing partner at KPMG’s Bay Area Accounting Methods and Credit Services practice. She also served as the co-partner champion for the San Francisco KPMG Network of Women (KNOW) for several years and lead their San Francisco Inclusion & Diversity board. In addition, she served as the lead tax partner and lead account partner on several accounts, serving as a KPMG ambassador for those clients. She graduated from Augsburg University with a degree in Accounting and had a Masters in Business Taxation at University of Minnesota. She also served as a board member for a variety of local nonprofits.
Elizabeth M. Lilly is Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President for The Pohlad Companies and Marquette Companies, LLC. She oversees the public and private investments for the Pohlad family and provides leadership and management of their investment team.
Beth began her career with Goldman Sachs in 1985 in New York. In 1988, Beth joined Fund American Companies in Greenwich Connecticut where she worked as an analyst learning the merits of Value Investing. In 1997, she co-founded Woodland Partners in Minneapolis which focused on investing in small capitalization equities. In 2002, Woodland Partners was acquired by GAMCO Investors where she went on to serve as a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the $1.4 billion Teton Westwood Mighty Mites Fund and as a member of the value portfolio management team. In 2017, Beth founded Crocus Hill Partners to focus on investments in small and micro capitalization equities.
Beth received her BA in Economics from Hobart/William Smith College where she graduated with High Honors. She received her CFA designation in 1989. Beth currently serves on the board of the James J. Hill Center and The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Beth and her family live in St. Paul.
Sharon L. McCollam is the President and CFO of Albertsons Companies.
In the past Ms. McCollam occupied the position of EVP, Chief Operating & Financial Officer at Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, EVP at Best Buy Co., Inc., Chief Financial Officer & Vice President of Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. and Divisional Chief Financial Officer at Dole Food Co., Inc.
Sharon L. McCollam received an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Ms. Katherine B. Quinn, also known as Kate, has been Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer of US Bank NA and U.S. Bancorp since April 28, 2017. Ms. Quinn oversees all strategy, reputation and human resources work.
Ms. Quinn served as the Chief Strategy & Reputation Officer and Executive Vice President at U.S. Bancorp from September 2013 until April 2017. Ms. Quinn served as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at US Bank NA. Ms. Quinn joined US Bank in September 2013 and is responsible for Strategy, Marketing, Government Relations, Customer Experience, Analytics, Corporate Communications, Community Affairs and the US Bank Foundation.
Ms. Quinn served as an Executive Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at U.S. Bancorp from September 2013 until April 04, 2016. Ms. Quinn served as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Anthem, Inc. from March 2011 to January 2013. From September 2010 to January 2013, Ms. Quinn served as Chief Marketing Officer of Anthem, Inc. (formerly, WellPoint, Inc.), having served as Head of Corporate Marketing of WellPoint from July 2005 to September 2010. She served as Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at The Hartford from 2003 to 2005.
John Rogers is the Lead Portfolio Manager of the Ariel Fund and Co-Portfolio Manager of Ariel Small Cap Value, Ariel Small/Mid Cap Value, Ariel Mid Cap Value and Ariel Appreciation Fund. John’s passion for investing began at age 12 when his father began buying him stocks as Christmas and birthday gifts. His interest in equities grew at Princeton University, where he majored in economics, and over the two-plus years he worked as a stockbroker for William Blair & Company, LLC.
In 1983, John founded Ariel to focus on patient, value investing within small-and medium-sized companies. While their research capabilities have expanded across the globe, patience is still the disciplined approach that drives the firm today.
Early in his career, John’s investment acumen brought him to the forefront of media attention and culminated in him being selected as Co-Mutual Fund Manager of the Year by Sylvia Porter’s Personal Finance magazine as well as an All-Star Mutual Fund Manager by USA TODAY. Furthermore, John has been highlighted alongside legendary investors Warren Buffett, Sir John Templeton and Ben Graham in the distinguished book: The World’s 99 Greatest Investors by Magnus Angenfelt. His professional accomplishments extend to the boardroom where he is a member of the board of directors of McDonald’s, NIKE and The New York Times Company.
John also serves as vice chair of the board of trustees of the University of Chicago. Additionally, he is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a director of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. In 2008, John was awarded Princeton University’s highest honor, the Woodrow Wilson Award, presented each year to the alumnus or alumna whose career embodies a commitment to national service. Following the election of President Barack Obama, John served as co-chair for the Presidential Inaugural Committee 2009, and more recently, he joined the Barack Obama Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Erin Sikorski joined The Wellington Group as Chief Executive Officer in 2019. As CEO, her role is to develop strategic initiatives that will lead the firm through the next phase of growth and innovation. Building on a platform of success, steeped in a culture of service, the firm will leverage all the talent, technology, and resources available to help clients achieve their financial goals.
Over a career spanning two decades, Erin has served in many leadership roles with direct experience in all aspects of the wealth management industry, including financial planning, investment management, operations and industry-wide positioning. Erin graduated Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business with a BS in Finance and is a Certified Financial Planner, Professional. Augmenting her professional work, Erin has served in several initiatives designed to promote the role of women the financial services industry. As a proud millennial, she understands the impact of disruptive technology as well as the importance of preparing for generational change and succession.
Erin was born and raised in central Indiana. She is an avid runner and a voracious reader; she has a passion for travel and exploring the world; she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Erin currently lives in suburban Indianapolis with her husband and their two children.
Catherine R. Smith is Chief Financial & Administrative Officer at Bright Health, Inc. Ms. Smith is also on the board of Baxter International, Inc., PPG Industries, Inc. and The Curtis L. Carlson School of Management.
She previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President of Kennametal, Inc., Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President of Target Corp., Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President at GameStop Corp., Chief Financial Officer & EVP-Bell Systems at Textron, Inc. and Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President of Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (a subsidiary of Textron, Inc.), Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President of Centex Corp., CFO, VP-Intelligence & Information Systems at Raytheon Co., Chief Financial Officer for Wal-Mart International, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President at Express Scripts, Inc. and Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President of Express Scripts Holding Co.
She received an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MBA from USC Marshall School of Business.
Robert T. Webb, also known as Rob, served as the President of UnitedHealth Group Ventures, LLC from 2012 to 2021. At UnitedHealth Group Ventures, Mr. Webb lead the investment strategies to advance innovative business models to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare. He also served as the Senior Vice President of UnitedHealth Group.
He joined UnitedHealth Group in 2001 from One Equity Partners after a decade in venture capital, private equity and consulting. Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of OptumHealth Care Solutions, Inc. at OptumHealth, Inc. Mr. Webb also served at One Equity Partners LLC, where he was a Partner and was responsible for sourcing and managing private equity investments in the health care, consumer, and financial industries. Mr. Webb joined Banc One Venture Partners in 2001 and worked in private equity with Willis Stein & Partners, L.L.C., and Sam Zell's corporate investment division. He also served as a Vice President at Equity Group Investments, LLC.
Prior to his private equity experience, he was a Consulting Manager with Arthur Anderson. He currently is on the board of Symphonix Health, Orthology, and Real Appeal. Mr. Webb has been the Chairman of Medirect Latino Inc. since June 2007 and has been its Director since March 2007.
He holds an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.
Whether you’re interested in building this program or being a part of our current iteration, drop us a note and we can discuss what’s possible.
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