Our 7th Annual Kellogg-DFW Career Symposium was a huge success! We had nearly 200 attendees for an entire morning of leadership sessions, career coaching and networking at the SMU Collins Executive Education Center.
During the first “breakout session”, I had the opportunity to moderate an Executive Recruiter Panel featuring Olga Hallax (Egon Zehnder), Mike McCurdy (McCurdy Associates), Rex Kurzius (Timberhorn) and Tracy Elving (Heidrick and Struggles). It was a great opportunity for attendees to “draw back the curtain” on Executive Recruiting and understand more about developing good relationships with recruiters and being better positioned for future opportunities. All of the panelists did a fantastic job!
Afterwards, Mike D. Merrill – the Chief Bacon Maker himself – shared insights on all things social media related. His session covered the importance of having and managing your social presence from a “content marketing” perspective. The session was really great, if you ever get the chance to hear him speak, I highly recommend it.
Finally, J. Eric Smith – Chief Executive Officer Swiss Re Americas – spoke about his experiences and path to the top of one of the worlds’ largest insurance companies. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that he attributed a great deal of his success to networking, but what I found insightful was his advice to be open to the “brutal” assignments that others might not want to take as a way to distinguish yourself during your career!
Although it was a long morning (5am wakeup on a Saturday – yikes!) it was another great Career Symposium by the Kellogg-DFW Alumni Club!
(from left) Matt Kurtz – moderator, Rex Kurzius – Timberhorn, Tracy Elving – Heidrick and Struggles, Mike McCurdy – McCurdy Associates, and Olga Hallax – Egon Zehnder
Joe DePinto (CEO of 7-Eleven)
incredible Broadmoor Hotel near NORAD (yes, the ones who do “Santa Tracker” for people with children).
