C-Suite Conversations

David Blanchard, Blanchard's Coffee

UR alumnus David Blanchard began roasting coffee as a hobby that has now grown into wholesale and retail operations up and down the East Coast. 

Jason Wright, Washington Commanders

Jason Wright discusses his career journey from consulting to the NFL and lessons learned along the way.

Lisa McKnight, Mattel

Lisa McKnight is Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of Mattel. She joined Mattel in 1998. In her current role, Ms. McKnight oversees all of Mattel’s toy categories and global brands, as well as design and development.

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.

Kristen Cavallo, The Martin Agency

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

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.

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.

Ting Xu, Evergreen Enterprises

The Robins School of Business welcomed Ting Xu, founder of Evergreen Enterprises for a C-Suite Conversation with Dr. Richard Coughlan. She shared her family’s immigration story, and explained how a career for her retired parents making decorative flags in her garage turned into a major company.

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.

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.

Moses Foster, West Cary Group

Moses Foster founded West Cary Group in 2007 and is president and CEO. A full-service marketing communications and advertising firm, Foster has led West Cary Group and its clients into an era of integrated communications innovation and growth, garnering notable clients.

John Hewa, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

Hewa has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the electric utility industry and has served as the CEO of electric cooperatives in Texas and Florida and as NRECA’s vice president of Research, Engineering and Technical Services.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.