Leadership Development

By Lindsay Anderson

The Bradley University Alumni Association’s second Leadership Summit in June gathered more than 120 Bradley University alumni, faculty, students and community members to the Hilltop to discuss foundational leadership principles.

The three-day event brought together an array of diverse perspectives to stimulate leadership growth through lectures and conversations. Those in attendance gained valuable insights from interaction with high-profile alumni speakers and faculty, many from the Foster College of Business.

“We wanted to offer a professional development opportunity in a way that alumni and community members could learn from graduates that have had success in many different fields,” said Executive Director of Alumni Relations Tory (McCord) Jennetten '96. 

One of the Summit’s Key Note Speakers was marketing alumnus Tim Bender ’82, NVIDIA Vice-President of Worldwide Consumer and Business Development. Bender discussed how leaders can develop their organizations competitive challenges through a focused approach that utilizes innovation and creativity as its foundation.

Business management and administration alumnus Steve Holland ’85, 7-Eleven Chief Technology and Digital Officer, explained how the convenience store, as an 88-year-old retailer, continues to evolve in the digital age with over 10,000 stores in North America. He also stressed the importance of how to apply solutions in a fast-paced environment and how that is key to staying ahead of competitors with on-the-go consumers via smartphones, CRM and the voice of customer applications.

Foster College of Business faculty and administrators also presented at the Summit.

Dr. Ed Bond, associate professor and department chair of marketing gave an informative talk geared toward attendees whose organizations include technical specialists that work in innovation.

Dr. Darrell Radson, Dean of the Foster College of Business; Dr. Lex Akers, Dean of the Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology; and accounting alumnus Dave DeFreitas ’87, Group CFO of Corporate Services at Caterpillar, Inc. discussed the value of innovation through collaboration. The educational paradigm of innovation through collaboration is the theory and practice of educating students from multiple disciplines in the launching of new innovations into the market place. The session further discussed the curricula, industrial partnerships, and the scholarship used to educate students to identify, develop, and capitalize on high-potential business opportunities.

Management and leadership professor Dr. Charles Stoner closed the Summit with a talk on leaders’ roles in ensuring changes succeed.

“It was a great Leadership Summit,” Dean Radson said. “There was a lot to learn, tremendous participation and a good turnout. The Foster College of Business is very proud of its alumni and faculty for sharing their knowledge and contributing to such a successful event.”