Executives in Residence Speaker Series
Designed to bridge the gap between academics and careers among students, the series convenes the School’s Executives in Residence, scholar-practitioners, and thought leaders to explore cutting-edge topics and practices in the world of work. Students, alumni, faculty, and guests continue the conversation and spark connections during the networking reception that follows.
These distinguished individuals’ impressive industry experience and leadership expertise will be invaluable to our students as they prepare for the new world of work."
Dean Jason Wingard, Ph.D.
Recent Speakers and Topics
Leadership Adaptability
In February 2020, a panel of Executives in Residence shared their insights on the impact of adaptability on personal success and organizational effectiveness, as well as their recommendations for individuals and organizations seeking to achieve greater flexibility and improve outcomes. Virginia Gambale, Managing Partner at Azimuth Partners, LLC, Todd Haimes, Artistic Director and CEO of Roundabout Theatre Company, and Bill Mixon, CEO of National Seating & Mobility served as panelists. V. Mary Abraham, Academic Director of the Information and Knowledge Strategy master’s program, moderated the discussion.
Diversifying the Talent Pipeline
In September 2019, a panel of Executives in Residence shared their insights on the value of diversity and inclusion and how they factor into recruiting and retaining top talent. Yvette C. Burton, Academic Director of the Human Capital Management master's program, moderated the discussion. Maryam Banikarim, ‘89BC, ‘93BU, ‘93IA, Executive Advisor at Cove Hill Partners and Head of Marketing at Nextdoor; Edward Lewis, Co-founder of Essence Magazine and Chairman and Publisher Emeritus of Essence Communications, Inc.; John A. Nixon, Partner at Duane Morris, LLP; and Jurij Paraszczak, Former Director of IBM Research Industry Solutions served as the panelists. See highlights from the event below.
Boards Must Demand Diversity
It's not enough to simply hire diverse employees, said Executive in Residence Maryam Banikarim. Boards play a key role in ensuring that companies are hiring, retaining, and advancing diverse talent at every level.
The Value of Self-Advocacy
Executive in Residence John A. Nixon discussed the confidence gap at work and the value of self-advocacy at the individual and organizational level.
How to Negotiate Salary
In May 2019, Executive in Residence and Partner at Duane Morris, LLP John Nixon joined Dean Jason Wingard and SPS students to speak about trends in executive pay, strategies for negotiating salary and benefits, and how an organization can successfully implement a ‘compensation culture.’ Nixon is a nationally recognized expert in employee benefits and executive compensation.
Direct Engagement
Building upon the School’s scholar-practitioner model, Executives in Residence enrich the graduate student experience by sharing their diverse knowledge and skills through instruction, mentorship, and research. Executives in Residence engage with students as well as alumni and faculty through a variety of formats, including during the Speaker Series and at SPS’s Career Design Lab located in New York City.
About the Executives in Residence
Executives in Residence are world-class industry professionals, who enrich the academic mission by bringing diverse, real-world experiences and insights to the students of the School of Professional Studies. They are experienced senior executives in a range of industries including finance, technology, law, marketing, publishing, analytics and information management, research, theater, insurance, and health. See all SPS Executives in Residence here.