Favorite Business Leaders Of The Class Of 2023

Sheryl Sandberg, Former Meta COO

Sheryl Sandberg, Meta: “She has been someone I have admired for a few years now. Her program has inspired so much positivity and empowerment for women in the workplace. Their main goal is to create, “Circles [that] bring together women from all walks of life, from Latina immigrants to women in the U.S. military, to so-called ‘leftover’ women in China. In these small groups, women get and give peer mentorship, sharpen their skills, and have a place to be unapologetically ambitious.” These Lean-In circles provide a place for women to feel heard, safe to address problems and complaints, and create an atmosphere of community in a (what used to be) very cold workplace. I personally have participated in a Lean-In circle through my Business Fraternity’s DEI committee, and it was such a warm and comforting experience for me. I thank Sheryl Sandberg for her ability to break past generational barriers and provide an environment for women in corporate America that is uplifting, encouraging, and kind. I hope to possibly continue this practice with the women in my group at JPM, as it has a very small female presence.”
Katherine Hyde, South Carolina (Darla Moore)

Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia: “He carries himself and his company to the highest standard in business. Despite founding Patagonia in 1973, Yvon Chouinard has infamously said, “I never wanted to be a businessman” – he started his business looking to solve problems for rock climbers like himself. Creating better climbing equipment than options available on the market, Patagonia expanded, eventually growing into the outdoor apparel company it is today. However, its core principles have always remained the same. Yvon Chouinard built a company around innovative, durable products while redefining how companies can protect the environment. Patagonia is the pinnacle of a stakeholder company, aiming to benefit all those impacted by its business operations, from employees to communities to the environment. Most notably, Yvon Chouinard and his family recently transferred their ownership of Patagonia to a trust and nonprofit organization to fight climate change. Yvon Chouinard is an exemplary businessman with the utmost moral and ethical standards – he inspires me to make my impact on the world.”
Brendan Fowler, University of Richmond (Robins)

Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble Founder

Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble: “After co-founding Tinder and being forced to relinquish her role after experiencing workplace harassment from her co-founder, Herd went on to found Bumble. Bumble has spread worldwide, gone public, and allowed Herd to become a female tech billionaire in a field traditionally dominated by men. Herd’s commitment to equality and sheer perseverance is admirable, and I could only hope to have as much pure grit as she does one day.”
Nethra Jayaprakash, Rutgers University (New Brunswick)

“Before starting Bumble, Whitney Wolfe Herd co-founded Tinder and worked as the company’s vice president of marketing. Wolfe Herd sued Tinder after she experienced sexual harassment from company executives. She then set out to advance gender equality and give women the power of “the first move” in a safe and respectful environment on Bumble. I respect that Wolfe Herd believes the behavior of people using the Bumble platform is her responsibility; she genuinely believes in empowering women and advancing gender equality. Whitney Wolfe Herd is the youngest woman to take a company public and became the youngest self-made billionaire after Bumble’s IPO. Wolfe Herd celebrated the IPO of Bumble on the NYSE with her 18-month-old son in her arms, creating a new image of what it looks like to be a successful tech entrepreneur.”
Elizabeth Collingsworth, Georgetown University (McDonough)

Sean Bratches, Formula 1: “I admire Sean Bratches for his outstanding career within the business world and his unique ability to drive exponential growth and create synergies. Sean possesses an unparalleled vision for the future and an innate commitment to excellence and performance in the sports and entertainment industry. His leadership and business strategy made Formula One Group double its market value in less than five years. Above all, I admire Sean for his human qualities. He is known for his strong sense of integrity and ethics, always prioritizing the welfare of his people. It is a great honor to consider Sean an esteemed friend and mentor. When I was experiencing great adversities, Sean said that if I were a stock, he would be all in. That phrase highly motivated me and still does to this very day. He has taught me invaluable lessons that will have a long-term positive impact on my life.”
Alejandro Suarez Cordova, Hult International Business School

Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase CEO

Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase: “Dimon has been an extremely effective and consistent leader of the largest bank in the United States. He has navigated the firm through major events like the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 pandemic. In each of these situations and during less volatile times, he has managed the firm diligently and positioned the bank on a path for success. In addition to his leadership acumen, due to his deep knowledge, he has become an influential voice in the world of business and economics. His insights are constantly sighted by business leaders and economists around the world.
Jack Cordero , Northeastern University (D’Amore-McKim)

Susan Li, Meta: “I really admire Susan Li, who became CFO of Meta (Facebook) at age 36. Starting high school at 11 and entering the Morgan Stanley trading floor at 19, Li is deeply ambitious and not afraid to stick out a little. The childhood stories she recounts show how Li embraces her idiosyncrasies, from being one of the only immigrants at her school to wearing purple jeans instead of blue. As a financial executive, Li used her out-of-the-box mindset to build revenue models for Facebook’s business structure, something especially challenging since its online format had no prior precedent. Reading about Li has helped me view my quirks as strengths and incorporate them into my leadership style and business work ethic.”
Jiaying “JaJa” Tong, USC (Marshall)

Sarah Blakely, SPANX CEO

Sarah Blakely, Spanx: “The business leader I admire most is Sarah Blakely, the visionary behind the iconic shapewear brand, Spanx. I am in awe of her grit and resilient spirit in creating her brand from scratch. She started her company with a mere $5,000, wrote her own patent (at the Georgia Tech Barnes and Noble, nonetheless, GO JACKETS!), and utilized creative marketing strategies, such as getting a custom SPANX license plate to build brand recognition. Moreover, she has used her platform and success to give back to others by investing in female entrepreneurs and promoting women to leadership positions. Her strength, generosity, and humor continue to be a source of inspiration and a reminder that with hard work and perseverance, my aspirations can become a reality.”
Lauren Gordon, Georgia Tech (Scheller)

Warren Buffet, Berkshire Hathaway: “One business leader I greatly admire is Warren Buffett. Though there may be some recency bias as I’m currently reading his biography, The Snowball, I have always respected Buffett’s commitment to his shareholders and how much he values honesty and integrity. He is never one to sugarcoat his mistakes. He doesn’t try to spin bad news or deceive – something all too common in today’s environment. He just calls it like it is. The transparency, frugality, honesty, and steadiness Buffett displays – despite his astounding success – is admirable. These traits are arguably becoming lost in today’s corporate environment; we would be wise to learn from Buffett’s experiences and success and not let such values slip away.”
Zachary “Zach” Skubic, Wake Forest University  

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