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David and Lyn Silfen Distinguished Leadership Series
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David and Lyn Silfen Distinguished Leadership Series

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At Columbia Business School, one of our great strengths is our ability to attract world-class leaders to campus to share their ideas and experience with the next generation of business innovators. The David and Lyn Silfen Distinguished Leadership Series is central to this effort. The series provides an unparalleled learning opportunity for the entire School community, and a distinct competitive advantage for Columbia.

Established in 2000 and presented with the guidance of a student-run board, the Silfen Distinguished Leadership Series is an attractive platform for firms wishing to showcase an exceptional leader. We invite all speaker recommendations and encourage you to open a dialogue with us about this unique opportunity to cement your firm’s reputation for excellence. Please contact Kevin Erixson, Senior Associate Director, The Hub via email for more information.

2024-2025 Speakers

Xavier R. Rolet ’84

Xavier R. Rolet ’84

Chairman of the Board, Prytek
Founder, Chene Bleu Wines

Mr. Rolet has a demonstrated history of successful turnarounds in the global financial services industry and was named as one of the 100 Best CEOs in the World in the 2017 Harvard Business Review. He has held various senior business and financial services positions throughout his career including CEO of CQS UK, CEO of Lehman Brothers Paris, global head of European Equities at Credit Suisse First Boston, and co-Head of European Equities Sales and Trading at GS London.

In his decade at the helm of the London Stock Exchange, the LSEG’s market valuation rose from $1 billion to $25 billion, transforming it into one of the world’s largest exchanges by market capitalization.

Learn more about Xavier R. Rolet ’84
Shankh Mitra ’09

Shankh Mitra ’09

Chief Executive Officer
Welltower Inc., New York

Shankh Mitra has been Welltower’s Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors since October 2020 and Chief Investment Officer from August 2018 to January 2023. Previously, he served in the roles of Welltower’s Vice Chair – Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Chief Investment Officer, Senior Vice President – Head of Investments and Senior Vice President – Finance & Investments. Prior to joining Welltower, Mr. Mitra served as Portfolio Manager, Real Estate Securities at Millennium Management LLC. He also served as a Senior Analyst at Citadel Investment Group and Fidelity Investments. Mr. Mitra began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Learn more about Shankh Mitra ’09
Kristin Peck '99

Kristin Peck '99

Chief Executive Officer
Zoetis, New Jersey

Kristin Peck is Chief Executive Officer of Zoetis, the world’s leading animal health company and a member of the Fortune 500. Ms. Peck is also a member of the Zoetis Board of Directors.

Prior to becoming CEO in 2020, Ms. Peck was executive vice president and group president, U.S. Operations, Business Development and Strategy at Zoetis. Ms. Peck helped usher Zoetis through its Initial Public Offering in 2013 and has been a driving force of change in many roles at the company, including Global Manufacturing and Supply, Global Poultry, Global Diagnostics, Corporate Development, and New Product Marketing and Global Market Research. Recognized for her transformative leadership and Zoetis’ strong performance in challenging times, Ms. Peck was named to the CNBC 2024 Changemakers list; selected by Barron’s as one of the top CEOs in 2022, and by Fortune as a 2020 Businessperson of the Year.

Learn more about Kristin Peck '99
Vikram S. Pandit PhD '86

Vikram S. Pandit PhD '86

Chairman and CEO
The Orogen Group, New York

Mr. Pandit is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Orogen Group, an operating company he created with Atairos that makes significant long-term strategic investments in financial services companies and related businesses with proven business models.

Before his role at the Orogen Group he joined Morgan Stanley in 1983, and ultimately became President and Chief Operating Officer of the company's institutional securities and investment banking businesses. Mr. Pandit left Morgan Stanley to become a founding member and chairman of the members committee of Old Lane, LP. When Old Lane was acquired by Citigroup in 2007, Mr. Pandit became Chairman and CEO of Citi Alternative Investments and later led Citi's Institutional Clients Group. He became CEO of Citigroup in December 2007 and successfully recapitalized, restructured and revitalized the company before he left in October 2012.

Learn more about Vikram S. Pandit PhD '86
Diana L. Taylor ’80

Diana L. Taylor ’80

Vice Chair
Solera Capital LLC

Ms. Taylor started her career as an investment banker in New York, where she worked from 1980 through 1996. She then joined Governor George Pataki’s administration, where she worked in several capacities in the environmental, energy, housing and banking fields. In 2003, she was appointed Banking Superintendent for the State of New York, which appointment she held for four years. In 2007, she moved into Private Equity, where she was involved in investments in financial institutions globally and then as an advisor on consumer businesses.

Learn more about Diana L. Taylor ’80

Latest Videos

Leadership and Innovation in the Arts: Diana Taylor and Kathy Brown Share Insights

Business leader Diana Taylor and NYC Ballet Chair Kathy Brown shared valuable leadership insights during a recent campus event. Taylor discussed navigating male-dominated financial environments early in her career, emphasizing the importance of standing firm amid challenging workplace cultures. Brown detailed the Ballet's successful initiatives to build—not merely revitalize—younger audiences, including their "30 Under" program which has attracted 31,000 members. Their "Art Series" has proven remarkably effective at converting first-time visitors into returning patrons. As Chair, Brown has united the board around maintaining excellence while honoring both tradition and innovation. The organization also focuses on supporting dancers through career transitions, recognizing the unique challenges these athletes face when they retire in their thirties or early forties.

  1. Leadership, Legacy, and the Arts: A Conversation with Executive Director and Chair of the NYC Ballet.
    Silfen Leadership Series Videos

    Leadership and Innovation in the Arts: Diana Taylor and Kathy Brown Share Insights

  2. Leading with Purpose and Passion: A Conversation with Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck ’99
    Silfen Leadership Series Videos

    Leading with Purpose and Passion: A Conversation with Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck ’99

  3. James P. Gorman
    Silfen Leadership Series Videos

    A Conversation with James Gorman, Executive Chairman, Morgan Stanley, NY

  4. CBS alum Bob Bakish at Silfen Leadership Series
    Silfen Leadership Series Videos

    Former Paramount CEO Robert Bakish ’89 Returns to CBS to Share Media Industry Insights

  5. A Conversation with Gunjan Kedia. David and Lyn Silfen Leadership Series speaker
    Silfen Leadership Series Videos

    A Conversation with Gunjan Kedia, Vice Chair of U.S. Bank Wealth Management and Investment Services

  6. A Conversation with Pascal Desroches. David and Lyn Silfen Leadership Series speaker
    Silfen Leadership Series Videos

    A Conversation with Pascal Desroches, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer AT&T

Past Speakers

Photo of Robert Marc Bakish '89

Robert M. Bakish ’89 (’85SEAS)

Former President and CEO
Paramount Global
Arnold L. Chavkin ’77

Arnold L. Chavkin ’77

Senior Advisor
Pine Brook Road Partners LLC, New York
Leon Cooperman ’67

Leon G. Cooperman ’67

Chairman and CEO,
Omega Family Office Inc., New York
Jamie Dimon

Jamie Dimon

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Larry Fink

Larry Fink

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
BlackRock
Photo Image of Ron Gonen

Ron Gonen ’04

Davide Grasso

Davide Grasso

Brand Chief Executive Officer
Maserati
James W. Keyes ’80

James W. Keyes ’80

Chairman
Key Development LLC, Texas
Wendy Kopp

Wendy Kopp

CEO & Co-founder
Teach For All
Henry R. Kravis ’69

Henry R. Kravis ’69

Co-founder and Co-executive Chairman
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., New York
Gail McGovern ’87

Gail McGovern ’87

President & Chief Executive Officer
American Red Cross
Headshot of Robert F. Smith ‘94 wearing a white collared button-down shirt and a blue suit jacket

Robert F. Smith ’94

Founder, Chairman, and CEO
Vista Equity Partners
Tracey T. Travis ’86

Tracey T. Travis ’86

Executive Vice President and CFO
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., New York

For more information on the Silfen Leadership Series, please contact:

Quadri Olanlege, Assistant Director, Student Engagement and Corporate Relations.
Phone: 212-854-1153
E-mail: [email protected]

Silfen Leadership Series Student Board Members, 2024-2025

Sidharth Agarwal

Diarra Ndeye 

Kathy Chen

Zeyu Chen

James Palmer III

Gale McFarlane

Chenchao Gao 

Josue Silva

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