Lectures


Throughout the academic year, the Deming Center provides workshops, seminars, and lectures discussing different aspects of Operational Excellence. Speakers include leading practitioners and Deming Cup winners.

2025

Paul Polman (Former CEO, Unilever)
"Net Positive Leadership"

Thursday, November 20th, 2025
In-person at Geffen Hall 

Moderated by Professor Bruce Usher, the Deming Center welcomed business leader, investor, and philanthropist Paul Polman for a student talk that explored how businesses can drive a net positive future and lead for good.

For more information, see:
A&S of Ex. Speaker Series - Paul Polman Agenda.pdf

2020

  • Juan Ramon Alaix
    CEO, Zoetis 
    January 2020
  • Alessandro Carlucci
    Chairman of the Board, Business for Social Responsibility
    January 2020
  • Jia Chen
    Product Leader, Blockchain for Healthcare & Life Sciences, Innovations & Solution Incubation, IBM
    January 2020
  • Hubert Joly
    Executive Chairman
    Best Buy
    February 2020
  • Daniel Ramot
    Co-founder and CEO, Via
    February 2020
  • Ghassan Abou-Alfa
    Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Faculty, Weill Medical College, Cornell University
    April 2020
  • Tim Knoll
    COO, FreshDirect
    April 2020
  • Sam Palmisano
    Chairman, Center for Global Enterprise
    April 2020
  • Bob Phillips
    Director, Pricing Research, Amazon
    May 2020
  • Alberto Verme
    Global Chairman, Institutional Clients Group, Citi, United Kingdom
    June 2020

2019

  • Juan Ramon Alaix
    CEO, Zoetis
    January 2019
  • David McInerney
    Co-Founder and CEO, FreshDirect
    January 2019
  • Kristin Peck
    EVP and Group President, US Operations, Business Development & Strategy, Zoetis
    February 2019
  • Douglas Baker
    Chairman and CEO, Ecolab
    February 2019
  • Terry Lundgren
    Retired Chairman and CEO, Macy's, Inc.
    April 2019
  • E.B. Shouldice
    Board Chair and President and John Hughes, Managing Director
    July 2019
  • Scott Henderson
    Executive Officer in Patrol Borough Brooklyn North, NYPD  
    November 2019
  • Terry Lundgren
    Retired Chairman and CEO, Macy’s Inc.
    November 2019
  • Tim Steiner
    OBE and CEO, Ocado
    December 2019
  • Melinda Roylett
    General Manager UK and Ireland, Uber
    December 2019

2018

  • James Rhee
    CEO, Ashley Stewart
    January 2018
  • Alessandro Delfino
    Partner, McKinsey & Company
    February 2018
  • Grace Puma
    Executive Vice President, Global Operations, PepsiCo
    February 2018
  • Jessica Flugge
    Vice President, Global Quality, Marriott International
    June 2018
  • Tony Gascon
    GM, MR Value Stream Operations, GE Healthcare
    June 2018
  • Luis Pagani
    President and CEO, Grupo Arcor
    December 2018
  • Francisco Carrau
    CEO, Bodegas Carrau
    December 2018

2017

  • David Cote
    CEO, Honeywell
    February 2017
  • Philippe Cochet
    Chief Productivity Officer, GE
    February 2017
  • Daniel Ramot
    Co-Founder and CEO, Via
    June 2017
  • James Keyes
    CEO, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets; Chairman, Wild Oats, LLC
    August 2017
  • Alessandro Carlucci
    Chairman, Business for Social Responsibility; Former CEO, Natura Cosmeticos
    August 2017
  • Tim Steiner
    CEO, Ocado
    August 2017
  • Matteo Del Vecchio
    CEO, Carolee, LLC
    August 2017
  • Karen Gray
    Vice President of Retail and Global Development, Eileen Fisher
    August 2017
  • Lynne Greene
    Group President, Clinique, Origins, Ojon, Aveda & Darphin, The Estée Lauder Companies
    August 2017
  • Richard Jaffe
    Investor & Consultant to Retailers
    August 2017
  • James Rhee
    CEO, Ashley Stewart
    September 2017
  • Kristin Peck
    EVP & President US Operations, Zoetis
    November 2017
  • Mauro Fenzi
    CEO, Comau
    December 2017

2016

  • Alessandro Carlucci
    Chairman, BSR & Former CEO, Natura Cosméticos
    Spring 2016
  • Toby Cosgrove
    President and CEO, Cleveland Clinic
    Spring 2016
  • Keith Sherin
    Vice Chairman, GE; Chairman and CEO, GE Capital
    Spring 2016
  • Kristin Peck
    EVP and President, US Operations, Zoetis
    Spring 2016
  • Leila Velez
    Founder and CEO, Beleza Natural
    Summer 2016

2015

  • Alessandro Carlucci
    Chairman, BSR; Former CEO, Natura Cosméticos
    Fall 2015
  • Danielle DiFerdinando
    Founder and Creative Director, Danielle Nicole
    Summer 2015
  • Christine Doherty
    Deputy Inspector and Commanding Officer of NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau
    Summer 2015
  • Frederic Mazzella
    Founder and CEO, BlaBla Car
    Spring 2015
  • Leila Velez
    Founder and CEO, Beleza Natural
    Summer 2015
  • Alberto Verme
    Chairman, Europe, Middle East and Africa Banking, Citigroup
    Spring 2015
  • Stef Wertheimer
    Founder, ISCAR
    Fall 2015

2014

  • Scott Wharton
    Managing Director and Global CPO, Citibank
    Summer 2014
  • Kristin Peck '99
    EVP and Group President, Zoetis
    Spring 2014
     
  • Paolo Rocca
    Chairman and CEO, Tenaris S.A.
    Spring 2014

2013

2012

  • Rob Amen '73
    Executive in Residence, Columbia Business School
    Summer 2012
  • Steve Blank
    Serial Entrepreneur
    Summer 2012
  • Crystal Caligiuri
    Senior Director Operations, Gilt Groupe
    Spring 2012
  • Tom Groos '80
    Partner, Citylight Capital
    Summer 2012
  • Brent James
    Chief Quality Officer, Intermountain Healthcare
    Fall 2012
  • Sergio Marchionne
    Chairman and CEO, Chrysler Group; CEO, Fiat
    Fall 2012
  • Stephen Murray
    President and Chief Executive Officer, CCMP Capital
    Fall 2012
  • David Niles
    President, SSA&Co
    Spring 2012

2011

  • Jeffrey Keefer
    Consultant to Chair and CEO, DuPont
    Summer 2011
  • David Neeleman
    Founder, Chairman and CEO, Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A.; Founder and Former CEO, JetBlue Airways
    Summer 2011
    Fall 2011
  • Sam Palmisano
    Chairman, IBM
    Operations Management
    Fall 2011
  • Harry Silver '80
    Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
    Summer 2011