The "Art & Science of Execution" Speaker Series brings senior business leaders and executives to the Columbia Business School campus for high-impact talks attended by students and faculty. Each session features a distinguished practitioner who shares firsthand perspectives on how organizations translate strategy into results—navigating complexity, aligning incentives, and executing at scale in real-world settings. Speakers reflect on critical execution challenges such as operational decision-making, organizational design, performance management, and long-term value creation, drawing directly from their professional experience. Moderated by Columbia faculty, these conversations connect practitioner insights with academic frameworks, reinforcing the link between theory and practice.
November 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
February 2026
Private Equity Panel
"Operations & Value Creation"
Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
In-person at Geffen Hall
The conversation provided a look at the strategic intersection of operations and finance, offering students a roadmap for high-impact careers in the field. We were honored to host an esteemed group of industry leaders:
- Bridget Walsh (Moderator) – EY EMEIA Area Managing Partner
- Pablo Dominguez – Operating Partner, Insight Partners
- Jeanne Chen – Managing Director, Cinven
- Jill Wight – Private Equity Operating Partner
- Paul Carbonneau – EY Americas Strategy and Transformation Co-Leader
September 2026
Operations in Tech Panel
Tuesday, September 29th, 2026
In person at Kravis Hall
At the heart of this panel was the question: "What makes a tech company run well?" We welcomed three leaders from across the tech industry to share their experiences, insights, and perspectives on operations:
- Garrett van Ryzin – Distinguished Scientist, Uber
- Sarah Walker – President, SecurityScorecard; Former COO, Slack
- Lauren Zujkowski – COO, Invisible Technologies
- Mattan Griffel (Moderator) – Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Faculty of Business, Decision, Risk, and Operations Division, Columbia Business School
