Inspiring Conversations Series
Spring 2021 Series
Transforming Lives and Lives Transformed
Notre Dame’s Inspired Leadership Initiative launched its second installment of the highly successful digital series begun last fall featuring leaders from across many disciplines and industries. During the Spring semester Inspiring Conversations discussed the theme of "Transforming Lives and Lives Transformed" and focused on three critical and timely topics: pursuing a second act, the intersection of spirituality and leadership, and solving societal problems.
Each guest speaker shared stories, perspectives, and lessons learned from their own experiences as leaders – personally, within their organizations, and in their communities. Each focused on the human side of transformation – their catalysts, purpose, and mission. It is our hope that participants will walk away enriched and inspired to take action.
The Inspiring Conversations series was exclusively offered through ThinkND, the University’s open online learning community. Recordings of the Spring 2021 series can be found below.
March 2, 2021
Paul Grangaard, Chairman and CEO, Faribault Woolen Mill Co.
"Art of Creating Renaissance"
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March 9, 2021
Dr. Juliana Otieno, Senior Lecturer, Uzima University, Medical School & Founder, Rusalia Resource Foundation
"Inspiring Girls to Achieve"
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March 30, 2021
John Ebert, President of J.W. Ebert Corporation, which owns and operates more than 40 McDonald's
"Leadership Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic"
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April 6, 2021
Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., President Emeritus, University of Notre Dame
"Chosen to Lead"
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April 13, 2021
Sr. Gabriella Bottani, SMC, Talitha Kum, the International Network of Consecrated Life Against Trafficking &
Sr. Ann Oestreich, I.H.M., President, U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking
"The Myths and Terrible Truths of Human Trafficking"
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April 21, 2021
Karl Racine, Attorney General for the District of Columbia
Richard (Dick) Nussbaum II '74, Partner with Sopko, Nussbaum, Inabnit, & Kaczmarek
"The American Justice System and the Future"
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May 18, 2021
Dr. Adrienne Boissy, Chief Experience Officer, Cleveland Clinic
"Why Care? Crafting a Leadership Grounded in Truth and Empathy"
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Fall 2020 Series
Leading People in an Ever Changing World
The Inspiring Conversations digital series launched in Fall 2020 with the theme of "Leading People in an Ever-Changing World." The series featured leaders from across many disciplines and industries. Led by Tom Schreier and Chris Stevens, and co-sponsored with the Inspired Leadership Initiative and the Notre Dame Alumni Association, the series explored the concepts of human-centered leadership – mission, empathy, courage, and adaptability. Recordings of the live Zoom sessions are available below.
August 25, 2020
Dr. Penny Wheeler, President and CEO, Allina Health.
"Embracing the Mind, Body and Spirit through Health Care"
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September 8, 2020
Dave MacLennan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cargill.
"Sustainably Nourishing a Challenged, Changing, and Hungry World"
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September 22, 2020
Muffet McGraw, former head women’s basketball coach, Notre Dame.
"Building a Winning Team"
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October 6, 2020
Paul Karos, past president investment banking and equities, Piper Jaffray;
Cindy Karos, Founding Inaugural Member, The Order of the Myrrhbearing Women.
"How our shared faith has guided our life, our professions, our family and our path forward, even in the face of personal obstacles like blindness"
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October 20, 2020
Hubert Joly, former chairman & CEO of Best Buy & senior lecturer at Harvard Business School; author of the forthcoming book "The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism"
Hortense le Gentil, author of "Aligned: Connecting Your True Self with the Leader You're Meant to Be"
"Leading with Purpose and Humanity by Aligning Head and Heart"
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October 27, 2020
Louis King, II, President & Chief Executive Officer, Summit Academy OIC
"The Day After Tomorrow"
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November 17, 2020
Fr. Dan Groody C.S.C., VP and Associate Provost, Notre Dame
"The Heart's Desire and Social Change: Finding the Path to Meaning and Mission";
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December 1, 2020
Richard Leider, founder, Inventure–The Purpose Company and author
"The Path of Purposeful Leadership"
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