C-Suite Conversations

Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia

Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia is one of the largest non-profit organizations in the state, with an annual budget of $75M and a workforce of more than 1100 associates. Mark Barth, president and CEO, and Desmond Carter, COO, join Richard Coughlan for a candid discussion.

Paige Wilson, Naborforce

Paige Wilson, founder of Naborforce, joins the Robins School for a C-Suite Conversation. Since Ms. Wilson launched Naborforce in 2018, the firm scaled rapidly and recently closed a $9M round of Series A financing. After a very successful career in finance and banking, Wilson pivoted to entrepreneurship to meet an important need in the community.

Richard Bynum, The PNC Financial Services Group

Richard Bynum, chief corporate responsibility officer of The PNC Financial Services Group, joins the Robins School for a C-Suite Conversation to discuss leadership and his role addressing emerging ESG issues across PNC’s rapidly expanding footprint.

Jyot Singh, RTS Labs

Jyot Singh, founder and CEO of RTS Labs, joined Dr. Richard Coughlan for the first C-Suite Conversation of the 2022-23 academic year.

Kristen Cavallo, The Martin Agency

Kristen Cavallo, CEO of The Martin Agency, discusses leadership and life at the nationally recognized advertising agency.

Miller Brady, PGA Tour Champions

Miller Brady, president of PGA TOUR Champions, discusses leadership, decision-making, strategy, and other areas that contribute to the organization’s success.

Mark Lazarus, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming

Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, joined Dr. Richard Coughlan for a discussion on leadership, decision-making, and strategy at one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies.

Brian Bortell, Timmons Group

Brian Bortell, president, chairman and CEO of Timmons Group, an engineering, design, and technology company, joined Dr. Richard Coughlan on-stage for an hour long interview about his journey to becoming CEO and his insights into running the company.

Thomas Gayner, Markel Corporation

Thomas Gayner, co-chief executive officer of Markel Corporation, sat down with Dr. Richard Coughlan to discuss what it's like sharing CEO duties and his leadership strategy.

Don Godwin, Newport News Shipbuilding

Don Godwin, vice president and CFO of Newport News Shipbuilding, joined Dr. Richard Coughlan for a C-Suite Conversation about management, strategy, and the shipyard he runs.

Mike Nelson, Allianz Worldwide Partners

Mike Nelson, CEO, Global Travel and Americas at Allianz Worldwide Partners shared his business strategies and philosophies with Richard Coughlan in our C-Suite Conversation on October 2, 2019.

Leigh Sewell, Bon Secours

Leigh Sewell, CEO of multiple Bon Secours hospitals in RVA, shared her journey from Circuit City to CEO of the health system in our first C-Suite Conversation of the 2019-2020 season.

Tom Farrell, Dominion Energy

Tom Farrell, CEO of Dominion Energy spoke to our students about the energy company's history in Richmond and how they are revolutionizing their grid across the region.

Neil Amin, Shamin Hotels

Neil Amin, chief executive officer of Shamin Hotels, spoke with Dr. Richard Coughlan about the company’s many holdings in Virginia, and across the country, and about his rise through the hotel industry.

Courtney Paulk, L’00, Hirschler

Courtney Paulk, L’00, joined Dr. Richard Coughlan for a C-Suite Conversation on February 12, 2019, to discuss her career path from her time at the University of Richmond School of Law to becoming president of Hirschler, a Richmond based law firm.

Thomas Joyce, Danaher Corporation

Thomas Joyce, President and Chief Executive Officer of Danaher Corporation, speaks of the lessons learned while building a global, multi-industry portfolio of businesses for the science and technology organization.

Richard Wintsch, Startup Virginia

Richard Wintsch, executive director at Startup Virginia, sits down with Richard Coughlan to discuss the startup incubator's growth and success and Richmond's thriving entrepreneurial scene.

Dan Schmitt, HHHunt

Dan Schmitt, president and chief operating officer of HHHunt joined Dr. Richard Coughlan for the first C-Suite Conversation of the 2018-2019 season. They discussed how he has revolutionized the company’s strategy since becoming COO in 2013.

Denise Johnson, Caterpillar, Inc.

Denise Johnson, group president, Caterpillar, Inc., joined Dr. Richard Coughlan for the final C-Suite Conversation of the 2017-2018 school year. She discussed the company’s commitment to its customers during a sales downturn, and how her sector has come back stronger as a result.

Tim Bezbatchenko, ’04, Toronto Football Club

Tim Bezbatchenko, ’04, general manager of Toronto Football Club, joined Dr. Richard Coughlan for the first C-Suite Conversation of 2018. They discussed Bezbatchenko’s career from his time on the Richmond Spider soccer team through his work now in Toronto.

Bill Rogers, SunTrust Banks, Inc.

Bill Rogers, CEO, SunTrust Banks Inc., discussed the company’s values and initiatives with Dr. Richard Coughlan in the second C-Suite Conversation of the year.

Beto Guajardo, Starbucks

Beto Guajardo, Senior Vice President of Global Strategy for Starbucks, spoke with Dr. Richard Coughlan about how he creates the Starbucks experience, and what the company is doing with new technology to tailor that experience to every individual customer.

Karen Hoguet, Macy's

Macy’s CFO, Karen Hoguet, discussed the changing landscape of retail shopping in the final C-Suite Conversation of the year.

Ron Carey, Studio Squared

Ron Carey, president, Studio Squared, shared insights on his career in digital marketing for companies like Starbucks and Walmart with Dr. Richard Coughlan in the second to last C-Suite Conversation of 2016-2017.

Shane Emmett, Health Warrior

Shane Emmett, CEO of RVA based superfood company Health Warrior, shared his experience in starting his own business, and getting an early entry into the superfood industry.