Dean's MBA Executive Speaker Series
The Dean's MBA Executive Speaker Series provides an opportunity for prominent business leaders to engage with our students in both small and larger group settings. Through an open exchange with our students, these leaders share their personal leadership philosophies and experiences that will influence the way our students lead in the future.
2011 - 2012 Speakers
Katherine Schipper
Thomas F. Keller Professor of Business Administration, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
In conjuction with the Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series
Katherine Schipper is the Thomas F. Keller Professor of Business Administration at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Schipper holds a BA from the University of Dayton, MBA, MA and PhD degrees from the University of Chicago and an honorary degree from Notre Dame University. Prior to joining Duke University’s faculty, she was a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Schipper has published research papers on a wide range of topics in financial reporting, corporation finance and corporate governance. She is a frequent speaker on matters related to international accounting convergence, financial reporting standard setting and financial reporting quality.

Gregg Sherrill
Chairman and CEO, Tennico Inc.
Gregg Sherrill, 58, is Chairman and CEO of Tenneco Inc., a $5.9 billion manufacturer of emission control and ride control components and systems. With approximately 22,000 employees worldwide and 80 facilities in 23 countries, the company serves all major vehicle manufacturers and replacement market customers around the world. In addition to extensive experience in the automotive supply industry, Sherrill’s background includes 22 years with Ford Motor Company. Sherrill, who holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Indiana University’s Graduate School of Business, is a director of Snap-on Incorporated.

Matthew Rose
CEO, BNSF Railway Company
Since 2000, Matthew Rose has been CEO of BNSF Railway Company, which became a Berkshire Hathaway-owned company in 2010. He has also held the position of chairman since 2000. In June of 1999, he was made president and COO. For almost two years prior to that, he served as senior vice president and COO. He joined Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) in 1993 and held several positions in the Merchandise Business Unit. Prior to that, he held several positions in the trucking industry. Rose holds a BS from the University of Missouri, where he majored in marketing and minored in logistics.

John Hollowell
Executive Vice President Deep Water, Shell Upstream Americas
John Hollowell began his career with Shell as an engineer in New Orleans. He held several managerial assignments of increasing responsibility in engineering and operations before becoming asset manager in 1995, where he was responsible for exploration and production activity for south Texas. In 1998, Hollowell moved to Downstream as General Manager, Gulf of Mexico for Shell Pipeline. As of 2009, John is currently the Executive VP, Deep Water for Shell’s Upstream Americas with responsibility for Shell’s ventures in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and governance of additional South American JVs.

Laura Wright
Senior Vice President and CFO, Southwest Airlines Co.
Laura Wright has served as Senior Vice President and CFO of Southwest Airlines Co. since 2004. She is a member of Southwest’s Senior Management Committee, the airlines senior officer group, and the Executive Planning Committee, the eight-member executive officer group responsible for strategic and long-term planning. Wright has previously held positions at Southwest that include Vice President Finance and Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Director Corporate Finance and Director Corporate Tax. Prior to joining Southwest, Wright was a tax manager with Arthur Young & Company in Dallas, Texas.

