Silfen Leadership Series

Former Estée Lauder CFO Tracey Travis reflects on how leading a struggling Pepsi bottling unit became the defining risk that shaped her path to global leadership.

Gori explained why the way you deliver results is just as important as the bottom line.

Experimentation, timely pivots, and a broader view of impact have shaped the Senior Partner’s path from finance to global leadership at McKinsey.

Bob Elliott rose from an unlikely background to the C-suite of renowned asset manager Bridgewater Associates. Now, as the Co-Founder of Unlimited Funds, he’s using proprietary machine learning to replicate elite hedge-fund strategies for a fraction of their costs.

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.

The David and Lyn Silfen Leadership Series is a set of distinguished speaking engagements where we invite prominent industry leaders to speak to us on the subject of leadership. As a student-run venture, in conjunction with the Dean's Office and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, the Series aims to enhance the shared access to intellectual capital between students and the leaders who drive organizations, societies, and markets forward.

Morgan Stanley’s former CEO reflects on his time at Columbia Business School, his unexpected path to Wall Street leadership, and why aspiring business leaders should focus on the journey rather than immediate rewards.

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.