Goal. Provide students the unique opportunity to learn about the challenges of leading a company directly from CEOs and senior executives. Founded in 1988.

CEO Participants. Each spring semester, Dr. Charles J. Gallagher invites fifteen senior executives to take part in this highly personal and focused class.

2008 CEO Participants

Student Participants. Dr. Gallagher selects a group of highly motivated and academically talented students to be part of this special learning opportunity. Students need the recommendation of a member of the business faculty, and should receive approval from Prof. Gallagher, Room 3126, before registering with the Undergraduate Student Office.

How it works. Students research the speakers, their companies, prepare company profiles and submit a list of in–depth questions before each class. In each class, students meet around a board table with a senior level executive -- chairman, president or CEO -- for a “no holds barred” 2 1/2 hour question and answer session. Discussions focus on the key traits of successful senior executives, the firm’s business strategies and issues related to that executive’s particular industry.

What participants have to say.

Thomas G. Snead, Jr., Class of 1976
President and CEO (Retired), Southeast Region, Wellpoint, Inc.
“These are really smart, smart kids who ask all sorts of insightful questions. Much of the stuff (we discussed) is not necessarily covered in the textbook … I try to give them a dose of reality to real problems that they will have to face. Any question is fair game.”

Stuart C. Siegel, Chairman of S&K Famous Brands
“Experience beyond the classroom is always beneficial for you. To interact with people that are in your field of interest brings a perspective the classroom cannot offer.”