Distinguished Speaker Series

Bringing the world's leading corporations to Fuqua

Since 1984, the Dean's Office of The Fuqua School of Business has hosted the Distinguished Speaker Series, bringing a variety of corporate leaders to Duke's campus. The speakers provide significant educational enrichment that is a natural complement to the school's curriculum.

The objective of the series is two-fold. It brings high-profile corporate leaders to one of the world's leading business schools to share their insights on current business issues and corporate strategies. The program also builds and strengthens the relationship between Fuqua and the world's leading corporations.

The Distinguished Speaker Series is supported by Dean Bill Boulding, and the series is open to the Duke University community.   


Mary Barra, CEO and Chairperson of General Motors, speaks with Dean Boulding

Apple CEO Tim Cook explains how to hire people who will focus on collaboration and deliver the "magic" that happens when great minds come together.
Video

Distinguished Speaker Series: Apple CEO Tim Cook

Leadership Insights

Top Tech CEOs Share with Students

Xerox CEO Ursula Burns talking to Dean Bill Boulding during a Fuqua Distinguished Speaker Series event
What’s the benefit of hearing from two female CEOs of fortune 150 companies within a two-week period? A student who helped host their visits explains.
read joia's recap

2017-2018 Speakers

Date Speaker
Sep. 26, 2017 Jud Linville, CEO, Citi Cards and
Ajay Banga, President and CEO, Mastercard
Nov. 16, 2017 Lisa Borders, President, WNBA
Nov. 21, 2017 Kent Thiry, CEO, DaVita Inc.
Nov. 30, 2017 Jeff Ubben, CEO, ValueAct

Past Speakers

2016-2017

  • Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors Corporation - View YouTube video
  • General Martin Dempsey, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs - View YouTube video
  • Bill McDermott, CEO, SAP SE
  • Doug McMillon, CEO, Walmart Stores, Inc.
  • John McNabb II., Former Chairman and CEO, Willbros Group - View YouTube video
  • Oscar Munoz, CEO, United Airlines - View YouTube video
  • David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, The Carlyle Group - View YouTube video
  • Tony Scott, former U.S. Chief Information Officer - View YouTube video
  • Adam Silver, Commissioner, National Basketball Association

2015-2016

2014-2015

2013-2014

  • Jonathan Bush, CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board, athenahealth, Inc. - View YouTube video
  • David Gergen,Co-Director, Center for Public Leadership, Professor of Public Service, Harvard Kennedy School - View YouTube Video
  • Jeremy Grantham, Chairman and Co-Founder, Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo Company
  • Joseph R. Swedish, CEO, WellPoint

2012-2013

2011-2012

  • Beth Comstock, SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, GE
  • N.R. Narayana Murthy, Founder & Chairman Emeritus, Infosys
  • Punit Renjen, Chairman, Deloitte LLP
  • Bob Weber, SVP & General Counsel, IBM - View video in Fuqua's iTunes library

2010-2011

2009-2010

  • Craig Mundie, Chief Research & Strategy Officer, Microsoft Corporation - View video in Fuqua's iTunes library
  • Jamie Dimon, Chairman & CEO, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • Timothy Flynn, Chairman, KPMG LLP
  • Paul Levy, CEO, Beth Israel Hospital
  • Bob McDonald, CEO, P&G
  • Duncan Niederauer, CEO, NYSE Euronext - View video in Fuqua's iTunes library
  • George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports
  • Bob McDonald, CEO, Procter & Gamble

2008-2009

  • Stephen Quinn, Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer, Walmart U.S.
  • Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder & CEO, Acumen Fund
  • Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International
  • Ron Nicol, Senior Partner & Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group
  • Pietra Rivoli, Professor, Georgetown University & Author of The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy
  • John Mack, Chairman & CEO, Morgan Stanley
  • Frank Mars, President, Mars Symbioscience, Mars, Inc.