TSU’s College of Business hosts Global Leadership Summit for top business students

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s College of Business has a directive for its students: “Write your signature on the world.”

Dr. Millicent Lownes-Jackson, the College’s dean, said that charge inspired the recent Global Leadership Summit for its top undergraduate and graduate students. The event was held on Oct. 28 at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Nashville.

“Our goal in offering such a unique opportunity was to provide an out-of-class learning experience that equipped College of Business students with the confidence, skills and global competiveness required of the next generation of future leaders,” she said.

Organizers said the objective of the summit was to help position students for success by teaching them critical leadership and decision-making skills through exposure, lessons, and interactions with executive-level business and governmental leaders.

The event’s highlight included an executive luncheon that featured Kevin Williams, recently retired president of General Motors Canada and 1983 College of Business alum, as the keynote speaker. Williams talked about how he, a “little ol’ country boy from southern Maryland,” was able to climb the corporate ladder of one of the world’s largest and most respected global automotive companies.

Student Government Association President Aarian Forman said Williams and other leaders who participated in the summit were inspiring, and that the event overall was enlightening.

“All of the presenters were in positions that provided much credibility to the knowledge shared during the day,” said Forman, a senior business administration marketing student. “The summit was a real-time developmental catalyst for young business leaders.”

Other executives who participated in the summit include:

William Pickard, founder and CEO, Global Automotive Alliance
Ric Pennisi, managing director, MARSH USA, Inc.
Jim Schmitz, executive vice president and Middle Tennessee area president, Regions Bank
Retired U.S. Army Col. Mark Scureman, Author of “The Boss’s Challenge: Manage Well and Lead Well”
Sam Belk, executive vice president and Mid-South Division Manager, Wells Fargo
Elizabeth Hammond, managing principal, Bryan, Pendleton, Swats & McAllister
Ron Suedekum, senior vice president and senior credit products manager, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch
Keri Floyd Kelly, senior managing purchasing, Nissan Motor Company
Rhonda Cantrell Dunn, executive director, Elmcroft of Hendersonville

To learn about the College of Business located on TSU’s Avon Williams Campus, visit http://www.tnstate.edu/business/.

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