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Columbia Business School Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS)

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The Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) brings industry-shaping professionals right to campus to give you the opportunity to directly engage with some of the most influential business leaders in the world. From top executives at renowned companies to forward-thinking entrepreneurs, you will have the rare chance to personally hear insights from the minds driving the future of business.

These are not your typical lectures. Each session brings valuable, real-world advice, personal stories, and strategies that will broaden your perspective and challenge you to think critically.

Whether you're preparing for a leadership role or looking to refine your business expertise, the Distinguished Speaker Series puts you in the company of those who have already achieved it.

Business isn’t something you just learn—it’s something you live.

Distinguished Speaker Series logo locked to the Columbia Business School logo with Hermes icon in Columbia blue

Spring 2025 DSS Events

February 7, 2025 – Dan O'Day, CEO, Gilead Sciences

March 4, 2025 – Donna Morris, Chief People Officer, Walmart

March 6, 2025 – Bob Mumgaard, CEO, Commonwealth Fusion Systems

April 1, 2025 – Randy Garutti, Former CEO, Shake Shack

April 2, 2025 – Eric Kutcher, Chair, North America, McKinsey & Company

April 7, 2025 – Clara Wu Tsai, Co-Owner, New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets

April 15, 2025 – Diana Taylor, Director, NYC Ballet & Kathy Brown, Executive Director, NYC Ballet

April 24, 2025 – Jane Fraser, CEO, Citigroup

April 25, 2025 – Chris Levesque, CEO, TerraPower

April 29, 2025 – Jonathan Gray, President & Chief Operating Officer, Blackstone

Past DSS Speakers

Artificial Intelligence
Business and Society
Climate and Policy
Climate and Solutions
Climate and Technology
Future of Work
Leadership
Date
April 11, 2025
McKinsey’s Eric Kutcher
Artificial Intelligence
Business and Society
Climate and Policy
Climate and Solutions
Climate and Technology
Future of Work
Leadership

McKinsey’s Eric Kutcher on AI, Management Strategy, and Climate Innovation

During a recent Distinguished Speakers Series event, the Senior Partner and Chair of North America at McKinsey shared leadership insights on AI business strategy, climate innovation, and the future of work.

  • Read more about McKinsey’s Eric Kutcher on AI, Management Strategy, and Climate Innovation about McKinsey’s Eric Kutcher on AI, Management Strategy, and Climate Innovation
Entrepreneurship
Ethics and Leadership
Future of Work
Leadership
Marketing
The Workplace
Date
April 07, 2025
Randy Garutti, left, with Jorge Guzman, Gantcher Associate Professor of Business at CBS.
Entrepreneurship
Ethics and Leadership
Future of Work
Leadership
Marketing
The Workplace

Randy Garutti on Leading Shake Shack: Scale Smart, Stay Authentic

During an event hosted by the School’s Distinguished Speaker Series, the former CEO shared how Shake Shack grew from a single hot dog cart into a global brand — without compromising quality, culture, or community.

  • Read more about Randy Garutti on Leading Shake Shack: Scale Smart, Stay Authentic about Randy Garutti on Leading Shake Shack: Scale Smart, Stay Authentic
Climate and Policy
Climate and Solutions
Climate and Technology
Energy
Energy Solutions
Date
April 02, 2025
Bon Mumgaard, left, in conversation with Professor Bruce Usher
Climate and Policy
Climate and Solutions
Climate and Technology
Energy
Energy Solutions

Paving the Way to Fusion Energy

Inside the global race to build the next generation of clean power with Bob Mumgaard, CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

  • Read more about Paving the Way to Fusion Energy about Paving the Way to Fusion Energy
Artificial Intelligence
Business and Society
Leadership
Organizations
The Workplace
Date
March 21, 2025
Walmart Chief People Officer Donna Morris, left, with Professor Stephan Meier
Artificial Intelligence
Business and Society
Leadership
Organizations
The Workplace

Walmart’s Donna Morris on Building High-Performing Teams in the Age of AI

During a conversation hosted by Columbia Business School’s Distinguished Speaker Series, the multinational retailer’s Chief People Officer shared how leaders can use AI and people-first strategies to drive workplace innovation and resilience.

  • Read more about Walmart’s Donna Morris on Building High-Performing Teams in the Age of AI about Walmart’s Donna Morris on Building High-Performing Teams in the Age of AI
Artificial Intelligence
Economics and Policy
Healthcare
Leadership
Date
March 06, 2025
Dan O'Day
Artificial Intelligence
Economics and Policy
Healthcare
Leadership

Leadership Lessons from Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day

Innovations in data and AI are reshaping the biopharma industry.

  • Read more about Leadership Lessons from Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day about Leadership Lessons from Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day
Artificial Intelligence
Healthcare
Date
October 17, 2024
Senator Bill Cassidy.
Artificial Intelligence
Healthcare

Navigating AI’s Role in the Future of Healthcare

US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD, highlights the need to balance regulation and innovation when it comes to embracing AI in medicine.

  • Read more about Navigating AI’s Role in the Future of Healthcare about Navigating AI’s Role in the Future of Healthcare
Data and Business Analytics
Data/Big Data
Healthcare
Date
October 18, 2024
Emma Walmsley, CEO of British pharmaceutical giant GSK
Data and Business Analytics
Data/Big Data
Healthcare

Harnessing the Power of AI, Data — and People: Three Insights From GSK CEO Emma Walmsley

The pharmaceutical company leader praised AI for boosting productivity, but noted that it’s still “all about the people.”

  • Read more about Harnessing the Power of AI, Data — and People: Three Insights From GSK CEO Emma Walmsley about Harnessing the Power of AI, Data — and People: Three Insights From GSK CEO Emma Walmsley
Artificial Intelligence
DFI News & Write-Ups
Digital Future
Future of Work
Innovation
Media and Technology
Silfen Leadership Series Videos
Startups
Technology
Date
October 04, 2023
CBS Photo Image
Artificial Intelligence
DFI News & Write-Ups
Digital Future
Future of Work
Innovation
Media and Technology
Silfen Leadership Series Videos
Startups
Technology

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Reveals Keys to AI and Leadership

The tech visionary discussed lessons from building his tech company into a $1 trillion giant at an event organized by the School's Digital Future Initiative and the Silfen Leadership Series.

  • Read more about NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Reveals Keys to AI and Leadership about NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Reveals Keys to AI and Leadership
Artificial Intelligence
In Brief
Leadership
Date
May 01, 2024
Magazine Photo Image
Artificial Intelligence
In Brief
Leadership

Reid Hoffman on AI's 'Cognitive Industrial Revolution'

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman visited CBS in March to discuss the future of AI and the digital economy as part of an event hosted by Columbia Business School's Digital Future Initiative.

  • Read more about Reid Hoffman on AI's 'Cognitive Industrial Revolution' about Reid Hoffman on AI's 'Cognitive Industrial Revolution'
Business and Society
Date
May 01, 2024
Magazine Photo Image
Business and Society

Business Ethics Prize Goes to Delta CEO Ed Bastian

CBS's Bernstein Center for Leadership and Ethics awarded Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, the 2024 Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics in honor of his values-based leadership approach.

  • Read more about Business Ethics Prize Goes to Delta CEO Ed Bastian about Business Ethics Prize Goes to Delta CEO Ed Bastian
Finance
Finance and Economics
Date
April 09, 2024
Investor Ray Dalio
Finance
Finance and Economics

Ray Dalio Shares Game-Changing Investment, Career Insights

At a fireside chat hosted by Columbia Business School's Finance Division, the legendary investor laid out his approach to investing and career growth, and stressed the importance of learning from your mistakes

  • Read more about Ray Dalio Shares Game-Changing Investment, Career Insights about Ray Dalio Shares Game-Changing Investment, Career Insights
Business and Society
Decisions
Leadership and Strategy
Date
October 22, 2024
Manny Maceda (Bain)
Business and Society
Decisions
Leadership and Strategy

Manny Maceda: A Humble Journey to the Top of Bain & Company

On the surface—Manny Maceda admits—it might look like his journey to the very highest rung at Bain & Company was quite typical. 

  • Read more about Manny Maceda: A Humble Journey to the Top of Bain & Company about Manny Maceda: A Humble Journey to the Top of Bain & Company

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