CBA Dean's Leadership Forum

Captain Richard Phillips speaks during the College of Business Administration Dean's Leadership Forum

Exemplary Leaders On a Local Stage

The Dean's Leadership Forum is a special speaker series that aims to inspire and motivate leaders to transform business and society. Understanding that examples of exemplary leadership can be found inside and outside of the boardroom, the forum hosts speakers from a variety of disciplines and serves as a catalyst for bringing students, faculty, alumni and the community together to discuss topics critical to the success of organizations in a rapidly changing world.

About the Dean's Leadership Forum Schedule

Ziprecruiter Co-Founder Ian Siegel during his Dean's Leadership Forum on stage speaking

Supporters

The Dean's Leadership Forum is generously supported by 1971 accounting alumnus Ronald Gregoire and the Gregoire Family Trust, along with alumnus Lance Calvert.
Randi Zuckerberg sings on stage during her Dean's Leadership Forum

2019-2020 Schedule

Schedule to be announced soon.

Previous Speakers

Event poster for Milton Chen Dean's Leadership Forum

CBA Dean's Leadership Forum: The Global Leadership Initiative - Dr. Milton Chen

Dr. Milton Chen is a renowned proponent for improvements to education, W.K. Kellogg Board of Trustees member and holds numerous other board positions. On Thursday, January 31, Dr. Chen is the featured speaker of the CBA Dean's Leadership Forum: The Global Leadership Initiative with topics including:

  • Activating your Cal Poly education toward an international future
  • Understanding value: market and stake-holders
  • Developing a triple bottom line ethos - developing a philosophy of strategic activism for sustainable enterprise at all scales

ABOUT DR. CHEN

Dr. Milton Chen is senior fellow and executive director, emeritus at The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF), a non-profit operating foundation in the San Francisco Bay Area producing the well-known Edutopia.org website on innovative K-12 learning. He served as executive director of GLEF from 1998 to 2010. Dr. Chen has been the founding director of the KQED Center for Education (PBS) in San Francisco; director of research at Sesame Workshop in New York, helping develop Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and 3-2-1 Contact; and an assistant professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. During 2007-08, he was one of 35 Fulbright New Century Scholars.

Dr. Chen serves as chairman of the Panasonic Foundation in New Jersey, which supports youth and STEM learning in Newark, and is a member of the board of trustees for Sesame Workshop and the Kellogg Foundation. He chaired the education committee for the National Park System Advisory Board, advancing the agency’s work in STEM and humanities education.

Dr. Chen’s career has been honored by the Fred Rogers Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Congressional Black Caucus. He received the NHK-Japan President’s Award for contributions to educational media and was named an Honorary Ranger by the National Park Service. His 2010 book, Education Nation: Six Leading Edges of Innovation in our Schools, was named as one of the year’s best education books by the American School Board Journal. Perhaps most importantly, on his 50th birthday, Dr. Chen was named a Jedi Master by George Lucas!

Randi Zuckerberg Dean's Leadership Forum posterWithin a month, Randi Zuckerberg started a company, had a child and bought a new house. Randi was already an experienced multi-tasker and established professional. Her list of achievements included marketing manager for Facebook, regular panelist on Forbes on Fox and publishing three books. Successfully balancing her growing list of priorities became the topic of her fourth book, “Pick Three: You Can Have It All ‘Just Not Every Day,’” and Randi will be visiting Cal Poly Pomona to share her secrets in person.

Zuckerberg took the Ursa Major stage in Cal Poly Pomona’s Bronco Student Center at 5:30 p.m. the night of Nov. 7 as a featured speaker in the College of Business Administration Dean’s Leadership Forum series. The special appearance was the grand finale to the campus community’s celebration of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.

Following the Dean’s Leadership Forum, Zuckerberg signed copies of “You Can Have It All.” The book and her discussion will provided students useful tips and strategies to maintain a healthy life balance. 

ABOUT RANDI
Randi Zuckerberg is an entrepreneur, investor, and founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media. Passionate about the intersection of tech and media, Randi was an early employee at Facebook where she was the creator of Facebook Live, and currently hosts a weekly tech business show called Dot Complicated on SiriusXM.

Randi has two TV shows currently on air: American Dreams on HSN, which highlights entrepreneurs around the country, and DOT on NBC Universal Kids, which was the winner of Kidscreen's Best New Preschool Series.
 Randi also served as mentor on Oxygen’s show “Quit Your Day Job,” Randi appears regularly on NBC’s the TODAY show and CNBC, and has also been seen on CNN, Good Morning America, Fox Business, Bloomberg News, and ABC's World News. Randi was recently appointed as a Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum. She is the author of Dot., dot Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives, and Pick Three: You Can have It All (Just Not Every Day).

In her free time, Randi loves the theater. She starred in Rock of Ages on Broadway in 2014, and serves on the boards of Lincoln Center and The American Theatre Wing.

Josh Altman Dean's Leadership Forum Event PosterCal Poly Pomona's College of Business Administration with the Real Estate Association and National Society of Leadership and Success presented, "It's Your Move: Taking Risks with Confidence," by real estate mogul and reality tv star Josh Altman Oct. 4 in the latest installment of the Dean's Leadership Forum.

Josh Altman’s Story
A real estate mogul and star of BRAVO's "Million Dollar Listing - Los Angeles" is set to headline the next installment of the College of Business Administration's Dean's Leadership Forum. 

Josh Altman will present "It's Your Move: Taking Risks with Confidence" at Cal Poly Pomona's Bronco Student Center at 7 p.m. the night of October 4. Complimentary tickets are available at: altmandlf.eventbrite.com. 

As one of the most successful real estate agents in the United States, specializing in the luxury housing markets of Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and the Hollywood Hills, Josh's clientele consists primarily of A-list celebrities, professional athletes, business leaders and high net worth individuals from around the globe. Josh has sold over $1.5 Billion in real estate including the most expensive one bedroom house in history, which sold for over $20,000,000. At any time he has over $350,000,000 in listings.

Along with his older brother Matt, Josh created the Altman Brothers, a one-stop real estate firm that provides both buyers and sellers with their exclusive white-glove, VIP treatment.

Josh is known for his ability to listen and understand his clients’ needs, allowing him to continuously deliver above and beyond their goals and expectations. His personable and professional character allow Josh to build and maintain solid relationships, which explains why his business has grown mostly from referrals and repeat clients.

Since early in his career Josh has always been heavily involved in all aspects of real estate. While many know Josh as a high-profile real estate agent, few realize that he has found enormous success as a real estate investor. Josh has quietly built a fortune buying and selling real estate, with several of his best residential “flips” making him a profit of over $1,000,000 each. Josh now has a strong passion for teaching others how to achieve success in real estate and believes that by following in his footsteps that anyone can change their life and financial future through real estate, with or without a real estate license.

Due to Josh’s impeccable track record of success, he was offered a starring role on BRAVO TV’s hit show Million Dollar Listing. His dynamic personality, humor for life, contagious energy, and love for the business have made him one of the most sought after speakers on the global circuit. His unique background allows him to connect with all ages, from lecturing at universities and college campuses around the country to the most demanding executive boardrooms. With over a decade of experience and huge personal success in the real estate business, Josh Altman has become a household name when it comes to the high-end real estate game. The breakout star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing has brought excitement back into the real estate business.

Despite his busy schedule, Josh still finds time to give back to his community. He is very passionate about volunteering his time and money to support numerous charities and causes. Josh grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, and attended Syracuse University where he was the kicker on the football team. While at Syracuse the team won the Big East Championship two years in a row playing in both the Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. After college Josh spent a short stint in New York City before moving out west to pursue his dream of real estate. Josh has lived in Los Angeles since 2003 and currently resides in the Hollywood Hills.

The College of Business Administration Dean's Leadership Forum is made possible by the general contributions of the Calvert and Gregoire Families

Ian Siegel Dean's Leadership Forum posterIan Siegel, CEO and co-founder of Ziprecruiter, will discuss strategies for “How to Land Your Dream Job” and tell the story behind one of the most successful online recruitment services when he visits the Cal Poly Pomona campus on Wednesday, May 23.

The event is part of the College of Business Administration’s Dean’s Leadership Forum and begins at 6 p.m. in the University Theatre.

Founded in 2010 with the mission to make hiring easier, ZipRecruiter is an online platform that enables companies to post to multiple free job boards with a single submission and to vet incoming applicants through simple-to-setup online interviews, providing a paperless experience.

In addition to his role at ZipRecruiter, Siegel has held executive product and technology leadership roles at a number of early-stage to mid-size start-ups, including CitySearch, Stamps.com and Rent.com. He has also served as director of technology of Viva Group, Inc., chief product officer of Mylife.com, Inc. and vice president of product and vice president of product & technology at Pictage, Inc.

Stephen Covey Event PosterThe topic of trust will be the focus when renowned speaker, Stephen M. R. Covey, takes the stage at Cal Poly Pomona’s Bronco Student Center.

The author and businessman will give his talk on trust on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. in Ursa Major. Covey is the latest speaker to be featured during the College of Business Administration’s Dean’s Leadership Forum, and a quote from his best-selling book, “The SPEED of Trust,” offers a prelude of what to expect.

“We can increase trust – much faster than we think,” Covey writes. “Doing so will have a huge impact, both in the quality of our lives and in the results we’re able to achieve.”

During his tenure as CEO of Covey Leadership Center, Covey established the largest leadership development company in the world. According to CEO Magazine, he personally led the strategy that propelled his father, Stephen R. Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” to one of the most influential business books of the 20th century.

While previous headliners of the CBA’s Dean’s Leadership Forum, such as former MLB commissioner Peter Ueberroth, have focused on the steps involved in success, Covey is the first to touch on one of the key emotions involved with leading Fortune 500 companies.

“It is amazing how Stephen M. R. Covey establishes the essence of what trust is and how it can be established and kept,” said Horst H. Schulze, co-founder of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. “Trust is the fundamental building block for a brand, and it is the glue for any lasting relationship.”

After his talk, Covey  will field questions from the audience. There will be a brief book-signing session where attendees can have the author personalize copies of, “The SPEED of Trust.”

Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan Dean's Leadership Forum Poster

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book, chosen as recommended reading for the CEO Library in CEO Forum, chronicles their start in a laundry room in 1986 and creating a nationwide bestselling wine label. With virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas and strategic alliances to overcome obstacles and create new markets. They pioneered “Worthy Cause Marketing” and performance-based compensation with a comprehensive view of customer service.

In 2005 they successfully sold the brand to E&J Gallo. Since then, Michael & Bonnie share their experience and innovative approach to business as authors, keynote speakers, corporate trainers and consultants with Fortune 500s. One of their clients made the Inc. 500 list for the second year in a row. They are sought-after workplace culture experts in both print and broadcast media with hundreds of interviews and articles in professional and national publications. They co-author weekly, no-nonsense, business blogs at: www.thebarefootspirit.com and www.thebrandauthority.net.

They are the recipients of the 2014 Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Award from the Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Bradley University; and keynote speakers for SOCAP Symposium (Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals in Business, World Conference on Entrepreneurship (ICSB) in Dublin, Ireland, and C-Suite Conference.

Michael & Bonnie speak throughout the country and internationally to corporations, conferences, universities and symposiums. Business leaders and professors of entrepreneurship highly recommend them as inspirational speakers and entrepreneurial thought leaders. Their new book The Entrepreneurial Culture, 23 Ways to Engage and Empower Your People and are were featured in Jeff Hayzlett’s C-Suite TV Network launch and C-Suite Book Club.

David Singelyn Dean's Leadership Forum Poster

Cal Poly Pomona's College of Business Administration and the Beta Kappa chapter of sales, marketing and management fraternity Pi Sigma Epsilon host Dean's Leadership Forum featuring alumnus David Singelyn.

About Mr. Singelyn:

David Singelyn is Chief Executive Officer and a trustee of American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH). For more than 25 years, Mr. Singelyn has held senior positions in private and publicly-traded real estate companies.

Prior to AMH, from 2005 to 2012, Mr. Singelyn was Chief Executive Officer and a Director of American Commercial Equities (ACE), a private real estate company that owns and manages a portfolio of retail and office properties in California and Hawaii. Mr. Singelyn built ACE’s management team and operational platform.

From 2003 to 2012, Mr. Singelyn was President and a Director of Public Storage in Canada (PSC). PSC was a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: PUB) until Mr. Singelyn facilitated a transaction to take it private in 2010. Mr. Singelyn remains a Director of both ACE and PSC.

From 1989 to 2003, Mr. Singelyn held various senior finance roles at Public Storage in the United States (NYSE: PSA). During his tenure, Public Storage raised funds through various public and institutional marketplaces and became one of the country’s largest real estate companies.

Mr. Singelyn started his career at Arthur Young & Company (currently EY LLP) and thereafter served as Controller of Winchell’s Donut Houses. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems, each from California Polytechnic University in Pomona.

Peter V. Ueberroth speaking on stage during his Leadership Forum

Peter V. Ueberroth serves as the managing director of Contrarian Group, Inc., an investment and management company.The group invests in small and medium size companies and takes a management role providing strategic guidance. In July of 1999, Ueberroth successfully orchestrated the purchase of the Pebble Beach Company; bringing it back to United States ownership after years of foreign ownership. Ueberroth now serves as owner and co-chairman of the Pebble Beach Company.Ueberroth is a member of the board of directors of The Coca Cola Company, Aircastle LTD, Easton-Bell Sports and The Irvine Company, and is a fellow of the Academy of Arts and Sciences. From 2004 through 2008, Ueberroth served as chairman of the United States Olympic Committee. From 1980 to 1984, Ueberroth served as president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LAOOC), the private non-profit organization responsible for staging and operating the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Under his leadership and management, the first privately financed Games resulted in a surplus of $238 million that continues to support youth and sports programs throughout the United States.

Ueberroth founded First Travel Corporation in 1962. When he sold the company in 1980, it was the second largest travel business in North America with over 300 wholly owned retail travel agencies.

Career Achievements

Peter V. Ueberroth serves as the managing director of Contrarian Group, Inc., an investment and management company. The group invests in small and medium size companies and takes a management role providing strategic guidance.

In July of 1999, Ueberroth successfully orchestrated the purchase of the Pebble Beach Company; bringing it back to United States ownership after years of foreign ownership. Ueberroth now serves as owner and co-chairman of the Pebble Beach Company.

Ueberroth is a member of the board of directors of The Coca Cola Company, Aircastle LTD, Easton-Bell Sports and The Irvine Company, and is a fellow of the Academy of Arts and Sciences.

From 2004 through 2008, Ueberroth served as chairman of the United States Olympic Committee 1984-1989.

Ueberroth served as the sixth Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

From 1980 to 1984, Ueberroth served as president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LAOOC), the private non-profit organization responsible for staging and operating the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Under his leadership and management, the first privately financed Games resulted in a surplus of $238 million that continues to support youth and sports programs throughout the United States.

Ueberroth founded First Travel Corporation in 1962. When he sold the company in 1980, it was the second largest travel business in North America with over 300 wholly owned retail travel agencies.

Headshot of Captain Richard Phillips at sea

For five days in April 2009, the world was glued to their TV screens as Captain Richard Phillips became the center of an extraordinary international drama when he was captured by Somali pirates who hijacked his ship, the first hijacking of a U.S. ship in more than 200 years.

The hostage drama began on Wednesday, April 8th when a small band of pirates swung grappling hooks and climbed ropes from their skiff onto the Maersk Alabama, a container ship ferrying food aid to East Africa. Firing into the air as they leapt aboard the ship, many of the crew members scrambled into a designated safe room aboard the vessel.

On the bridge, the pirates held four sailors at gunpoint, but the crew of 20 outnumbered the four attackers. They managed to wound the apparent leader of the pirates in the hand with an ice pick and regain control. The crew demanded the other pirates leave the ship, but the pirates had scuttled their own small boat. They demanded an escape boat, fuel and food.

To protect his crew, Captain Phillips made a conscious decision to put himself directly in harm's way, knowing full well that he might pay the ultimate price for his decision. Amid the standoff, he offered himself as a hostage.

Once the pirates settled into one of the ship's covered lifeboats, the crew attempted to trade the pirate they had captured for Captain Phillips. After they released their captive, the pirates refused to honor the agreement and fled with nine days of food rations and Captain Phillips. Held hostage as a human shield in a small lifeboat with three pirates, he had little to hope for or cling to — except the knowledge that he had done absolutely everything he could to save the lives of the 20 sailors aboard his ship.

The U.S. Navy responded to the scene, and negotiations were ongoing between the pirates and the captain of the USS Bainbridge. On Friday April 10th, Captain Phillips jumped out of the lifeboat and managed to swim a few yards toward the nearby destroyer, but the pirates went in after him and managed to haul him back in. The standoff dragged on until April 12th, when Navy SEAL snipers saw one of the pirates aim his AK-47 machine gun at Capt. Richard Phillips's back and concluded he was in “imminent danger.”

President Barack Obama, who spoke with Captain Phillips by phone after he was freed, said, "I share the country's admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans."

Captain Richard Phillips is the author of A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates , Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea, about his experience and his remarkable rescue. This dramatic story was also transformed into an Academy-Award and Golden-Globe nominated film, Captain Phillips, which hit t the big screens in fall of 2013. Captain Phillips is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy a member of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Union, and a licensed American merchant mariner. He became Captain of the MV Maersk Alabama in 2009. Captain Phillips married Andrea Coggio in 1987. They have two children, Mariah and Danny and reside in Underhill, Vermont.

Robinson at his leadership forum with picture of his book Out of Our Minds in the backgroundSir Ken Robinson has served as an advisor to Fortune 500 companies and governments in Europe, Asia and the United States. He also has been instrumental in transforming organizations’ corporate culture to focus more on fostering and developing creativity. His New York Times best-selling books help people tap into their creative potential. Robinson's ideas and research have made him a popular speaker on TED Talks. In fact, his 2006 and 2010 presentations have been seen by more than 200 million people in 150 countries, making Robinson the most-viewed speaker in the history of Ted.com.

During his visit in May, Robinson talked about everything from education reform to industrial farming to fulfilling potential and created a buzz on social media.

Sharon Allen on stage during her Dean's Leadership forum

Q&A with Dean Richard Lapidus

Sharon Allen is the first and only woman to be elected chariman of Deloitte. She began her career in Deloitte's Boise, ID office received a series of promotions until and she assumed the top executive role in 2003. Allen has received several honors during her career, most notably she was selected to Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women in the World” list four times. She retired in 2011 and serves on board of directors for nonprofit organization such as YMCA and Autry National Center.

Sharon has established a reputation as a thought leader and popular public speaker on topics ranging from governance and ethics to talent management and diversity. In 2007, she commissioned what became Deloitte’s annual Chairman’s Ethics & Workplace Survey, and has written articles that have appeared in such publications as "Directors & Boards, and Directoryship" and such online forums as Forbes.com and BusinessWeek.com.

 

Damon John on stage during his leadership forum

Daymond John is an entrepreneur from the streets of Hollis, Queens who went from designing and making FUBU clothing in his living room to generating $350 million in annual sales. Through his branding and marketing expertise, the clothing brand has been embraced by the hip-hop community and worn by artists such as LL Cool J, Rick Ross, Lil Jon, and Soulja Boy. John is also an author, motivational speaker and listens to entrepreneurs pitch their ideas as a judge on Shark Tank, the No. 1 Friday night show.

Mike Sheldon on stage with a mic during his Dean's Leadership Forum

As chief executive officer of Deutsch LA, Sheldon oversees one of the most creative advertising agencies in the world.  The firm regularly produces Super Bowl television commercials that are entertaining, provocative and nearly always the subject of water cooler talk. A 2011 Super Bowl ad for Volkswagen received 56 million views on YouTube and is widely regarded as one of the best ads of the year by critics. Other Deutsch LA clients include Taco Bell, the Milk Advisory Board and Dr. Pepper. Understanding the changing media landscape, Deutsch LA has partnered with Google’s Art, Copy and Code initiative to explore ways marketing can evolve in a technology-driven world. Sheldon’s push for innovation and creativity has created a financial powerhouse that has $1.7 billion in billings and the respect of the advertising world. ThinkLA, an advertising association, twice named Sheldon its Leader of the Year.