What is it? The VCU School of Business introduced the CEO class to graduating business students in 1988. The goal of this innovative class is to provide students the unique opportunity to learn about the challenges of leading a company directly from CEOs and senior executives.

Participants. Each spring semester, Dr. Charles J. Gallagher, associate professor of economics and associate dean for external affairs invites fifteen senior executives, to take part in this highly personal and focused class. From recommendations of the VCU Business School faculty Professor Gallagher selects a group of highly motivated and academically talented students who will become part of this special learning opportunity.

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.

The CEO Class brought it all together for Rachael Creveling, a 2004 Information Systems graduate who is now working with Genworth Financial. Rachael said that:

“The CEO class provided opportunities for me to practice critical thinking and to apply the sound business skills (that I developed in other foundational courses) at a strategic level.
I had an opportunity to meet people I never would have met. The small class size, made up of some of the best talent in the School of Business, also fostered an environment ripe for deep learning and friendship.”

Chido Sakutukwa, B.S. Management ’04 (an international student from Zimbawe) gained valuable insight into the real world of business.

As a business administration and management major, I felt extremely fortunate to be meeting with representatives of large and successful companies. However, I did not realize how useful and insightful each and every class would be and just how much I would learn about the actual business world.

Terry Nicholas, B.S. Information Systems ’04 is now working as a systems analyst with Virginia Premier Health Plan, Inc. said:

“Whether it was in the classroom or visiting the corporate headquarters of Covington International Travel or Media General, each week was challenging and exciting. Simply doing the research on the company would be enough for anyone to learn, however, the actual interaction with the CEO added another dimension to the experience. My personal favorite was Thomas G. Snead, Jr., President / CEO, WellPoint, Inc. Southeast Region. He gave us the feeling that he was truly one of us with his personal stories and his down to earth personality. His words of hard work will always be with me as I am now pursuing my career goals.”

Terry interviewed for a job during his last semester while he was taking the CEO class. He shares that the CEO class

“ … gave me the confidence to go into the interview and conduct myself as if I were … a CEO. I learned how to research a company and prepare my questions for the interview panel as I would for (the CEO) class. … The insight I gained into the professional world from all of the CEO's helped me understand what they were looking for in a Senior Manager and what I needed to do to succeed. I got the job less than a week after the interview at a starting salary that was very competitive with the industry ….”

What did Thomas G. Snead, Jr. say about the class? Mr. Snead was quoted in Richmomd.com as saying:

“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.”

Participating CEO’s see the class as an opportunity to give back to the students and the community. It is a way of showing students that there are many different paths to a successful career. But no matter which road is taken, one must be willing to work hard and be prepared to make difficult choices.

As Stuart C. Siegel, Chairman of S&K Famous Brands, said to the students:

“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.”

Students, also, appreciate the time that these executives take from their very busy schedules to share their advice and experiences with them. And in the process students see both the business and the human sides of these corporate leaders. As Rachael Creveling observed:

“Not only did this class teach me about the strategic side of business, but it also taught me about the human side of business. Each executive that took the time to meet with our class demonstrated heart as they offered candid advice on how they made the leap from being college seniors to prominent corporate leaders. They inspired us by sharing their personal experiences, and they challenged us to be critical thinkers, hard workers, and people of integrity.”

Executives strongly emphasized the importance of people to the organization’s success. As Raj Chandrasekaran, who will be graduated in December, 2004 with a B.S. in Finance observed:

“Perhaps the one point every CEO stressed upon was the importance of people in their respective organizations. People do make a difference in any business, regardless of the type of business.”

Floyd Menezes, B.S. (Economics) ’04, who is currently pursuing an MBA degree at VCU appreciated the CEO’s emphasis on a balanced life.

“The CEO class reaffirmed my belief in the system. It gave me
direction and the opportunity to meet some outstanding business people face to face. I was impressed by their modesty and was content to know that it was not all about dollars and cents. Success meant balancing professionalism, ethics, community and, most of all, family. It takes skill to have a balanced life and run a multimillion-dollar global enterprise simultaneously.”

The CEO Class is a Winner! The students are in agreement when discussing the bottom line! Floyd Menezes shared his view:

“This course has broadened my perspective. Now, I know exactly what I’m going to do. As Mr. Allen King, Chairman, President and CEO, of Universal Corporation, aptly put it “always be open to possibilities…they are out there.”

Rachael Creveling agrees:

“Anyone selected for the unique opportunity to sit in the CEO class should participate. As C.T. Hill, President and CEO of SunTrust Mid-Atlantic and a guest of the CEO Class, mentioned, the actions we take now could very well be laying the foundation for our careers, opening doors for us in the future. People say that success is largely due to who and what you know. This class is a great opportunity to network with the best minds in business while further cultivating your own business acumen.”

Terry Nicholas has this advice regarding the “Bottom Line”.

“I would tell anyone who had the opportunity to attend this class to do so with no hesitation. It was an honor to have been chosen and I would gladly take it again.”

In the final analysis you too can be part of the extraordinary experience at the VCU Business School! Raj Chandrasekaran states it very well.

“In the final analysis, I would say that being a part of this class was an extraordinary experience. I would strongly recommend this class to those students who have ambitions of making it to the upper echelons of corporate America. Not only was this a once in a lifetime opportunity to interact with chief executives, but it also made us wiser as a group.”

2005 Spring Semester - Management 491, the CEO Class

The schedule of executives for 2005 are listed below. To understand the level of corporate support, the list that follows at the end includes some of the past years' participants.

Senior Executive Leaders
J. Stewart Bryan, III	Chairman / CEO	Media General, Inc.
Josee G. Covington	President / CEO	Covington International Travel
C.T. Hill	Chairman /President / CEO	SunTrust Bank Mid-Atlantic
Fenton N. Hord	President / CEO	Stock Building Supply
Allen King	Chairman / President / CEO	Universal Corporation
W. Austin Ligon	President / CEO	CarMax
Steven A. Markel	Vice Chairman	Markel Corporation
G. Gilmer Minor, III	Chairman / CEO	Owens & Minor
Michael J. Morecroft	President / CEO	Hamilton Beach Proctor Silex
Thomas R. Scribner	President / CEO	Southern States Cooperative
John Seibert	President	Manchester Marketing, Inc.
Stuart C. Siegel	Chairman	S & K Famous Brands
Robert C. Sledd	Chairman / CEO	Performance Food Group
Thomas G. Snead, Jr.	President / CEO	WellPoint, Inc. Southeast Region
Michael Szymanczyk	Chairman / CEO	Philip Morris U.S.A.

Class is scheduled for Wednesdays at 4 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. Class begins Wednesday, January 19, 2005.

Enrollment

Enrollment will be limited to senior level business students with an interest in striving to reach the top of the organization and who have strong academic backgrounds. The expectation is that students will want to use this class not simply for course credit but also to enhance their analytical and communication skills.

Mechanics

The class will meet once a week for a period of 2 1/2 hours to explore topics that relate to the key traits of successful senior executives. Students will be expected to read the assigned materials in advance. The expectation is that they will come to class prepared to ask questions pertinent to the topic under study, and that they will be familiar with the materials in the readings. The grade for the course will be based on classroom performance.

Expectation for Classroom Performance

Students are expected to attend and actively participate in every class. The questions should be based primarily on the research and readings, although students may wish to broaden their questions to include other subjects pertinent to the discussion. The environment will be a supportive one that encourages learning and personal development.

Faculty Recommendations

Students need a recommendation of a member of the business faculty. Enrollment in Management 491, Career Development Seminar, is with permission of instructor. Students should receive approval from Prof. Gallagher, Room 3126, before registering with Jill Kramer in the Undergraduate Student Office.

Participants

Want the chance to meet all of these leaders, consider this class. You need to have strong academic standing and the recommendation of a faculty member. Space is limited.

For more information, contact Dr. Charles Gallagher, Room 3111. (Telephone 828-1745 or email cjgallag@vcu.edu).