Alumni: Leader of Consequence

Derek Bandeen '84, MBA '85

Co-Founder, Parkinson's Wellness Foundation

After 30+ years leading global equities at Morgan Stanley and Citi—including roles as European Head of Equities at Morgan Stanley and Global Head of Equities at Citi—Derek Bandeen has channeled that same drive for impact into ventures that matter beyond the balance sheet.

Today, his most meaningful work is co-founding the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation alongside his wife, Bonnie. Their 9,000 sq. ft. Bandeen Center at 133 East 58th Street in New York is dedicated to helping those living with Parkinson’s disease achieve their highest quality of life. It is personal, purposeful, and built to last.

He was recently a Senior Consultant at Sustainable H2O, a company pioneering cost-effective and ecologically sound water purification and steam production—because the next great resource challenge is water.

Academically, Derek has remained curious and committed: twice a Research Fellow in Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative (2018 and 2022), and a holder of a Master’s in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York (2021).

He recently served on the Advisory Boards of the Carr Center for Human Rights at Harvard Kennedy School and Sustainable H2O, and is currently a Board Member of the American School in London Foundation.

Whatever the endeavor, the goal has always been the same—to keep learning, and to leave things a little better than he found them.

What impact has your Fuqua experience had on your career/life?

Fuqua has had a tremendous impact on my life. After serving on the Board of Visitors for more than 20 years, I have been exposed to an amazing group of leaders asking thoughtful questions and providing insightful and inspiring perspectives and solutions.

I have also found myself referring back to lessons learned in the classroom throughout my life, both as a manager and as a mentor. The overarching theme has been the value of teamwork. By teamwork, I mean doing the hard work of selecting or creating the right teams with diverse backgrounds, and also understanding and accepting your own role within a team, regardless of seniority. The work of the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation and its first, fully open facility, the 9,000 sq. ft. Bandeen Center, would not be possible without the efforts of a remarkable team.

Professionally or personally, what are you excited about right now?

Right now, I am professionally interested in helping people with Parkinson’s lead the most rewarding and satisfying lives possible. It can be a lonely and difficult journey, but we are here to help. Working toward a cure is always front of mind, including supporting amazing research efforts. Lastly, I am working with a team in North Carolina called Sustainable H2O to find ways to clean water more efficiently and reduce environmental damage.

Personally, my wife, children, their spouses, my granddaughter, and many other relatives and friends are my focus. I try to listen carefully and be helpful where possible.

What does Team Fuqua mean to you? What does this Fuqua award mean to you?

I think of Team Fuqua as being at the heart of this wonderful organization. People sometimes confuse teamwork with just being polite, easygoing, or even unambitious. Nothing could be further from the truth. Real teamwork is hard, accountable, and demanding, but it is the way to deliver outstanding results, particularly in a fast-changing and fluid environment.

As to this award, I am humbled to be its recipient, but as you might guess, it reflects the work of numerous gifted teams, led more by my wife than myself, alongside the remarkable generosity of a close-knit and dedicated group of donors. I invite anyone to drop by our Center at 58th and Lexington whenever they are in New York with a spare moment.

Jimmy Childre MBA '01

President, Childre Ford

Jimmy Childre, Jr. grew up in Georgia and is a third-generation auto dealer, health care executive, and community leader.

Jimmy founded Childre Ford at age 25. He has represented Ford dealers on regional and national boards and received the company's top recognitions. While continuing in the auto dealership, Jimmy served on his local hospital board as chairman and CEO. In this role, he led the hospital through its organizational restructuring and long-term strategic plan. Jimmy attributes his second career in health care to The Fuqua School of Business.

As chairman and CEO of Washington County Regional Medical Center, Jimmy engaged many students from Fuqua in projects, strategic planning, and the restructuring of the hospital. This opportunity enabled students to gain a foundation in health care management and advance their careers.

Jimmy is a graduate of Fuqua’s Global Executive MBA program with a certificate in Health Sector Management. After Fuqua, he earned master’s degrees from the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge and HEC Paris, where his research interest was on issues facing his rural hospital. Jimmy’s previous academic pursuits include the Harvard Business School Owner/President Management Program and a BBA from Georgia Southern University.

The inaugural issue of The Wall Street Journal Magazine featured Jimmy as the Ford dealer who returned to graduate school to help his local hospital.

Jimmy is a Fellow of Practice in Social Innovation at the University of Cambridge, where he serves as a guest lecturer and student mentor. He has also been a frequent speaker at Fuqua, Georgia Southern, and at health care conferences. Jimmy has a TEDx talk on moving toward affordable health care in the U.S.

He has served on boards at Georgia Southern University, The Fuqua School of Business, the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, and the Academy of Management. Jimmy currently serves on boards at Georgia College, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, The Carter Center, Duke University Alumni Board of Directors, and the Duke School of Medicine Board of Visitors. He is a co-leader of the newly formed Duke Alumni in Health affinity group.

Jimmy’s many recognitions include Washington County Citizen of the Year, Georgia Southern University Alumni of the Year, Fuqua’s Alumni Award for Exemplary Service, and Ford Motor Company’s Hometown Hero Award. He was also profiled in Georgia Trend’s “500 Most Influential Leaders in Georgia.”

What impact has your Fuqua experience had on your career/life?

My Fuqua experience was life-changing, both personally and professionally. I started my car dealership when I was 25 years old, postponing my MBA. Fuqua’s Global Executive MBA was worth the wait. I began at Fuqua at the same time I joined my local hospital board, and after graduation, I became chairman of the board. While chair of the board, I enrolled in the Health Sector Management Certificate Program at Fuqua and after HSM graduation, I became CEO of the hospital. At Fuqua, my growth and development enhanced my ability to contribute to our family’s auto dealerships. It also enabled me to apply my studies and experiences to health care—one of the most challenging and rewarding businesses in society.

Professionally or personally, what are you excited about right now?

I am excited about the opportunities I get to work on today, including serving on the Duke Alumni Board and the Duke School of Medicine Board of Visitors. I get to see how Duke is making a difference in the lives of others, especially the advancements in medical science. We are also training the next leaders of consequence.

What does Team Fuqua mean to you? What does this Fuqua award mean to you?

Team Fuqua is not a slogan; it shapes our culture at Fuqua. When I arrived at Fuqua, I was unable to use the technology required for our courses. It was my classmates, faculty, and staff who supported me as I gained those skills. Today, I try to be the teammate who supports others when they are unable to support themselves. Team Fuqua nurtures leaders of consequence. I am honored to receive this award.