Presidential Speaker Series

The Way Forward

Presidential Speaker Series

The presidential speaker series is designed to connect members of the university community with leaders, visionaries and established professionals from across the country. “The Way Forward” offers thoughtful conversations about today's social, economic and health challenges, and the trailblazing ideas that will drive solutions for tomorrow.

Each event will include time for Q&A with participants, and is free and open to the public.

Apply Request Info Visit

Conversations We’ve Had

"Leadership in Times of Crisis"

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont
Watch the video | Read the story

"Travel and Hotels Post Pandemic"

Stewart Bainum, chairman, Choice Hotels
Watch the video | Read the story

"Innovations in Health Care and Health Technology Post COVID-19"

William Weldon ‘71, former chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson
Dr. David Feinberg, vice president, Google Health
Watch the video | Read the story

"Journalism and Managing the Newsroom During a Crisis"

Matt Murray, editor-in-chief, Wall Street Journal
Peter Spiegel, US managing editor, Financial Times
Watch the video | Read the story

"The Impact of the Pandemic on the Economically Vulnerable"

Arunan Arulampalam, JD '14, deputy commissioner, State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Erik Clemons, CEO, ConnCAT
Will Ginsberg, CEO, Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Watch the video | Read the story

"Pandemic Effects on Food: Food Insecurity and the Restaurant Business"

Betsy McLaughlin, board member, Veggie Grill
Jack Hitt, food writer
Watch the video | Read the story

"Professional Sports: Managing the Current Crisis and Anticipating the Future"

Peter Guber, chairman and CEO, Mandalay Entertainment
Michael Zavodsky, chief business officer, Detroit Pistons
Watch the video | Read the story

"Approaching the Elections in the Midst of the Economic, Political & Racial Strife of 2020"

Ronald Brownstein, political journalist
Denise Merrill, secretary of state, State of Connecticut
Watch the video | Read the story

"Managing Global Supply Chains During and Post COVID-19"

Jim Loree, chairman and CEO, Stanley Black & Decker
Ynon Kreiz, chairman and CEO, Mattel
Watch the video | Read the story

"Advice for Young Leaders"

Chuck Saia, senior partner at Deloitte, author and board member at Quinnipiac University
Watch the video | Read the story

"Navigating Your Career Path Across the Private and Public Sectors"

Antoinette (Toni) Bush, executive vice president and global head of government affairs, News Corp
Elicia Pegues Spearman, JD, general counsel and vice president for human resources, Quinnipiac University
Watch the video | Read the story

"The Risks and Rewards of Private Equity: Is This the Industry for You?"

David Kaplan, co-founder, Ares
Vikrant Sawhney, chief administrative officer and chief operating officer, Blackstone
Watch the video | Read the story

"The Development and Marketing of Pharmaceutical Products"

Steven Sorrells, vice president of sales, Pfizer
Michael Benkowitz, president and chief operating officer, United Therapeutics
Watch the video | Read the story

“The Future of Entertainment”

Anne Sweeney, a member of the Netflix board of directors and former co-chair of Disney Media Networks
Mike Hopkins, senior vice president for Prime Video and Amazon Studios
Fritz Staudmyer, assistant professor, chair of film, television and media arts in the School of Communications
Watch the video | Read the story

“The Future of College Athletics”

Michael Schill, president of University of Oregon, chair of the Pac-12 CEO Group
U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy of Connecticut
Greg Amodio, director of athletics at Quinnipiac
Watch the video | Read the story