Thanks to all of the executives who were part of our program in spring 2023!
We are looking forward to the next slate of executives who will be visiting campus in the fall.
Rick Brajer, HEALTHCARE CEO/FORMER SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (NC)September 13-20, 2023
BS Chemical Engineering (Purdue University), MBA (Stanford University Graduate School of Business)
The son of Yugoslavian immigrants, Rick brings over twenty years of president and CEO level leadership experience operating within venture, private equity, public (IPO), and public service (cabinet level government) environments.
Rick began his career at Procter & Gamble and at McKinsey & Company, environments deeply ingrained with proud teams, proud cultures and fact-based decision making. From 1990 to 2002, he held various leadership roles at Becton Dickinson, ultimately serving as an operating president and executive officer of the corporation. Following Becton Dickinson, Rick led LipoScience, Inc., a venture-backed company, as the company’s CEO from turn-around stage through its successful initial public offering (IPO) in January 2013.
Recently, Rick led system-wide reform efforts through public service, as North Carolina's Secretary of Health and Human Services. This was a cabinet-level position for a $20 billion agency with approximately 15,000 employees.
His leadership efforts are now focused at the intersection of private equity and health care services for the vulnerable (intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, substance use challenges, the elderly, at-risk youth), both in community and long-term care settings.
Rick earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
TOPIC AREAS: Faith and Leadership, From Engineering to Business, Healthcare, Public Service, Organizational leadership, Change Leadership, Taking Ownership of Your Unique Career
Bruce Schechter, ADVISOR, CONSULTANT, AND INVESTORSeptember 20-27, 2023
BS Physics and Math (Purdue University), MS Computer Science (Stanford University)
Bruce Schechter, in Palo Alto, CA, is an active advisor, consultant or investor in a variety of technology startups, including Life360, BigML, Carbon Lighthouse, Illumeo, and more. He is a member of the Band of Angels, Silicon Valley’s oldest organized Angel investor organization. Bruce began his career at Intel Corporation in 1980 and there he served a 17 year tenure in a variety of roles including Fab Process Engineering, Microprocessor Product Management, the Corporate Strategy Group, and Director of Online Marketing in the Corporate Marketing Group. Bruce was on the founding team of Pandesic LLC, a pioneering eCommerce cloud service provider, where he served as Director of Operations Management and later Director of Strategic Alliances.
Bruce is active in mentoring student entrepreneurs at both Stanford University and Purdue University, and is active in non-profit work, including his role as founder and President Emeritus of the Intel Alumni Network (a worldwide network of former Intel employees with focus on thought leadership and as co-founder/co-chairman of Purdue SVBIG (Silicon Valley Boilermaker Innovation Group, a group of esteemed Purdue alums offering mentoring to startups arising out of Purdue).
Bruce received a BS in Physics and Math from Purdue University, where he graduated with Highest Honors and Phi Beta Kappa, and much later (at age 49) received an Masters in Computer Science from Stanford University.
TOPIC AREAS: Technology Startups, Innovation, Investing, Technology, Marketing, Silicon Valley, Semiconductors, Microprocessors, Mentoring
DREW MATTISON, CHIEF DIGITAL ADVISOR AT WORLDWIDE TECHNOLOGYSeptember 27 - October 3, 2023
BS Design Engineering (Purdue University), MBA Strategy & Innovation (Michigan State University)
Since graduating from Purdue University in 1994, Drew has had vast experiences across multiple industries designing, building, and activating strategy, innovation, practices, and transformation initiatives. As an Executive Leader in Business Development, he has worked with UPS, Nike, Whirlpool, P&G, Ford, JP Morgan Chase, Coca-Cola, Kohl’s, Home Depot, GE, and Target. Always with a systems-thinking lens, Drew focuses and delivers the broader activation of consulting and business development, delivering strategies for organization effectiveness, shaping culture, and lending expertise.
TOPIC AREAS: Business Development, Business Strategy, Design Engineering, Consulting, Fortune 100, Music/Bands and Orchestras
Mark Ferrara, EXECUTIVE COACHING PRACTICE LEADER, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANYOctober 11-17, 2023
BS Environmental Design (Purdue University)
Mark Ferrara is the executive coaching practice leader for The Walt Disney Company. His work is primarily focused on the systemic management of coaching tools and relationships with external and internal coaches globally. Additionally, he personally coaches senior executives and high potential leaders and is involved in global strategic HR projects for Disney.
After 28 years of service, he retired from Eli Lilly and Company in 2017, the last eight years of which he was vice president of talent management. He was accountable for global employee recruiting, assessment, learning and development, staffing (including succession management), performance management, diversity & inclusion, and HR research. Additionally, he coached senior leaders, facilitated multiple CEO succession transitions and regularly interacted with the Board of Directors. His previous Human Resources roles at Lilly included senior director of compensation and benefits, senior director of human resources supporting Lilly Research Laboratories, director of global staffing, and manager of succession management.
He currently serves on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of the Indiana Historical Society. He has served as the Board leader for Young Life in Indiana and Kentucky and was previously chairman of Lilly’s United Way Board of Directors and served on the Boards of Conner Prairie Interactive Park and KIDS Inc., a youth mission in Indianapolis.
TOPIC AREAS: Leadership, Executive Coaching, Human Resources, Recruiting, Assessment, Performance Management, Succession Management
Roger C. Stewart, VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL TREASURY, PROCTER & GAMBLE (RETIRED)/FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KRANNERT GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE CAREER CENTERNovember 8-14, 2023
BS Biology (Purdue University), MS Industrial Administration (Purdue University)
Roger spent a 30 year career at Procter & Gamble where he provided financial analysis on brands such as Pampers, Luvs, Charmin, Bounty, and Always. He spent the last 18 years of his career in Treasury and retired as the Vice President of Global Treasury in 2005. He and his staff managed a $15 Billion debt portfolio, investments of $6 Billion, and the Company’s insurance risk, pension assets, foreign exchange risk, and offshore financing.
Upon retirement from P&G, he returned to Purdue where he taught International Finance and Capital markets in the MBA program from 2005 until 2009. From 2009 to 2014, he was the Executive Director of Krannert’s graduate and undergraduate career center (The Krannert Leadership and Professional Development Center). As an Executive in Residence, until 2019, he advised a number of Purdue’s top honorary and leadership organizations (Mortar Board, Old Masters, and Rising Professionals).
Roger’s passion is the Roger C. Stewart Leadership and Professional Development Program. While no longer on staff, Roger still spends time on campus expanding the program, advising students on their careers, teaching networking, and advising student organizations.
TOPIC AREAS: Financial Analysis, Management, Leadership, Finance, Career Planning, Networking, Student Organizations, Purdue Sports, Setting Goals