Executive Development

What does it really take to reach the C-suite—and what does it take to lead once you get there?

Each spring, Goizueta Executive MBA students and alumni have the opportunity to explore those questions firsthand at Pathway to the C-Suite, our signature event connecting accomplished leaders with current and emerging executives.

C-suite leaders from a range of industries and organizations share the personal stories behind their careers—the pivotal choices, unexpected turns, challenges, and lessons that shaped their paths to enterprise leadership. These candid conversations offer more than inspiration. They provide new perspectives on leadership, broaden what students see as possible, and create meaningful connections with leaders who have navigated the journey themselves.

Because the path to the C-suite is rarely linear. The right perspectives, relationships, and experiences can help you see what’s next—and prepare you to lead at a greater scale.

List of previous panelists*:

2026

• Leigh Dobbs, Chief Human Resources Officer, Gypsum Management and Supply, Inc.†
• Dr. Georgia Forrest, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Wellstar Cobb Hospital†
• Bridget McCarthy Lasda, Chief Sales Officer, Poppi†
• John Rice, Director of Baker Hughes and American Insurance Group; Former Vice Chairman, General Electric
• Cyril Turner, Former President, Delta Private Jets
• Tim Zulawski, President, Arther M. Blank Sports and Entertainment

2025

• Graciela (Grace) Chadwick, Chief Operations Officer, Crumbl Cookies†
• Paul Roth, Former Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of Retail and Sales and Services, AT&T Mobility
• Kathy Waller, Former Chief Financial Officer, The Coca-Cola Company

2024

• H. James Dallas, Former SVP of Quality, Operations and IT, Medtronic, Inc. †
• Dr. Sandy Duke, Executive Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer, Atrium Health Navicent System†
• Jamie Walker, Chief Executive Officer, Elavon Inc., formerly NOVA†
• Joy Wei, China General Manager/Chief Operations Officer, Sanrio (Hello Kitty) †

2023

• Jill Kramer, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Accenture
• Joe Lawrence, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Porsche Cars, North America, Inc. †
• LaShonda Oglesbee, Vice President, Global Talent Enablement, Assurant†
• David Roemer, Co-founder and CEO, Ideas United†

2022

• Ashley Grice, CEO + Managing Director, Brighthouse†
• Elizabeth Halkos, Chief Commercial Officer, Fullscript†
• Hank Vanjaria, Chief Financial Officer, ParkMobile
• Chris Womack, Chairman, President, and CEO, Georgia Power

2021

• Doris Meister, Executive Vice President, Wealth and Institutional Services, M&T Bank
• Dan Pompilio, President and Chief Executive Officer, SimpleC, LLC†
• Neeta Salvi, Chief Financial Officer, Commercial Vehicles Division, Mercedes-Benz USA
• Jack Tillman, Chief Real Estate and Corporate Development Officer, Piedmont Healthcare†

2020

• Jackie Breiter, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Tax Connex†
• Shannon A. Brown, SVP of Eastern Division, US Operations and Chief Diversity Officer, FedEx Express
• Tony Charaf, Former President of Technical Operations, Delta Airlines 
• Rebecca Messina, Former Global Chief Marketing Officer, Uber

*Title at time of event

†Goizueta alumni

Executive leadership requires more than knowing what to do. It requires knowing how to lead—how to influence, inspire, build trust, navigate complexity, and bring others with you.

The Executive Skills Immersion gives Goizueta Executive MBA students an immersive opportunity to develop the skills and self-awareness needed to maximize their impact as leaders. Through a combination of executive coaching, leadership development, self-reflection, and practical exercises, students explore how they show up as leaders and how they can become more effective with the people who matter most to their success.

From developing executive presence and emotional intelligence to influencing stakeholders and helping teams approach problems in new ways, the experience focuses on the human side of executive leadership. Students gain practical strategies they can apply immediately—and a deeper understanding of how to lead with greater confidence, presence, and influence.

Because at the executive level, growth isn't just about what you know. It's about how you lead.

Leader's Reaction Course

At Goizueta, we make sure you get the hands-on experience you need to succeed as a leader. The Leader's Reaction Course (LRC) is a unique experiential leadership opportunity that builds upon the programs and facilities of the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Georgia that is used to train all the Army's Officer candidates. This course builds upon the programs of the U.S. Army for developing leadership. Throughout the day-long course, you will get an intense, hands-on experience that emphasizes learning through team-based problem solving, decision making, and effective communication skills.

We place participants in team-based leadership scenarios similar to those encountered by officer candidates for the U.S. Army and solving problems with guidance and feedback by leadership coaches. Formed into small teams, participants will overcome challenges, surmount physical barriers, establish plans of action, and execute their plan to solve a problem. After each event, the participants will execute an after action review to discuss what went right, wrong, and what needs to be improved. Through this feedback process and reflection, students can then apply their lessons in subsequent challenges.

Core Courses & Required Seminars

These are non-credit, experiential learning opportunities available to students.

• Early intensive focus on teamwork and team leadership
• Birkman Method leadership assessment instrument
• Ethics seminar
• Developing Team Dynamics and Reflection Process Seminar
• Crisis Leadership seminar
• Peer feedback and executive coaching initiative

Leadership Electives

• Organizational Behavior & Leadership
• Leading and Managing Teams
• Leadership & Lifework
• Negotiations
• Managing Teams & Individuals
• Leading with Integrity