Dean's Leadership Series launched

Sunday, September 13, 2020
Online series aims to celebrate college's 50th anniversary and give back to the community

To celebrate its 50th anniversary and give back to the Charlotte community, UNC Charlotte's Belk College of Business is launching a new monthly online series. 

The Dean’s Leadership Series, presented by Belk College Dean Jennifer Troyer, will debut on Monday, Sept. 28. 

Each session will bring together a panel of distinguished guest speakers, executive business practitioners, and thought leaders who will share their insights, and experiences regarding current challenges and future opportunities facing the business community.  The lunchtime series is open to Belk College students, alumni, faculty, staff and the business community.

Leading on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace

About: The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, and protests over criminal and economic injustice have ignited debate across the country. This summer, businesses across the globe have put a new emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. We open the Dean's Leadership Series with a thoughtful conversation on how businesses can lead on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, featuring a panel of Charlotte-based business leaders.

Noon-1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28

Featuring:

  • Latesha Byrd ‘12, CEO and Founder, Byrd Career Consulting

  • Mike Freno,  President and Head of Investments, Barings 

  • Omar G. Jorge Peña, CEO, Compare Foods 

  • Craig Parkin, Senior Managing Director, TIAA  

Moderator: George Banks, Associate Professor of Management 

Implications of COVID-19 for Commercial Real Estate

About: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way everyday business is conducted. From health and safety issues to the shift toward remote work and uncertainty around retail, commercial real estate professionals must adapt. To better understand the current landscape and the future of commercial real estate, the Dean's Leadership Series welcomes three industry leaders for a timely conversation on this pressing topic.  

When: Noon-1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 

Featuring:

  • Peter Fioretti, Founder and CEO, Mountain Real Estate Capital, LLC

  • Jane Wu '07 (MAFI), President, Panorama Holdings, LLC

  • Landon Wyatt, Partner, Childress Klein Properties

Moderator: Yongqiang Chu, Director of the Childress Klein Center for Real Estate and Childress Klein Distinguished Professor of Real Estate and Economics 


Managing Through COVID-19: What Makes Family Business Different 

About: Family-owned and operated businesses have always experienced unique challenges and opportunities. With the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, they face the reality of a new and evolving economic landscape. Research has shown that family businesses are resilient because they have a cohesion that ties family co-workers together. This conversation with Charlotte family-owned business leaders will focus on what makes family-owned businesses unique and how they are responding to the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.

When: Noon-1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16

Panelists and the moderator for this session will be announced soon.

To register and for more information, visit the Dean’s Leadership Series webpage. This is one of several events planned in celebration of Belk College’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration. 

Green and Gold Drive Business
The Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte has been driving business for more than 50 years. Established in 1970, the college offers outstanding business education programs at the undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and executive levels. The Belk College is one of the Carolinas’ largest business schools, with more than 4,600 students, over 100 full-time faculty, and more than 33,000 alumni. Accredited by AACSB International, the college is committed to building strong partnerships in the greater Charlotte region and beyond as North Carolina's urban research business school. Learn more about how the Belk College is driving business at
belkcollege.charlotte.edu, and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.