Three Virginia Tech students-turned-corporate giants are returning to campus to share their experiences with current students in the Pamplin College of Business.
The executives, Nielsen Company Chairman and CEO David L. Calhoun, Wells Fargo Securities Vice President Nick D'Angelo and Dial Corporation President and CEO Brad Casper, will present separate speeches, beginning with Calhoun's presentation tonight.
"These speeches can be very beneficial and inspiring for students by showing them that those speakers can be their future images," said Gary S. Kinder, director of undergraduate career services for Pamplin.
"They can talk about their experience on the job and what they learned from the school as a studying point," Kinder said. "Some speakers referred students to some intern opportunities or even recruited students after interviews."
The Pamplin College of Business usually has five speakers each academic year.
"Since they all have different backgrounds, they can talk about different issues in the business and certainly relate toward the international market," said Richard Sorensen, dean of business.
"What we ask them to do is to share their personal experiences, how are they successful in the business, what kinds of things they did in Virginia Tech that helps them to be successful and set examples to our students," Sorensen said.
Calhoun graduated from Pamplin with a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1979. Before he joined Nielsen, he worked at General Electric Co. for 27 years. He has been appointed as president and CEO of six GE business units.
"I look forward to being back on campus and experiencing that special fall environment in Blacksburg," Calhoun said in an e-mail correspondence.
He will present a speech entitled "Success in Business," today from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Old Dominion Hall in Squires Student Center.
"Dave may be the second most successful man after Mr. Pamplin," Sorensen said.
Calhoun co-chairs the Virginia Tech Campaign Steering Committee, which has helped raise more than $790 million for university scholarships and fellowships and sits on the Pamplin Advisory Council.
"(With) a lot of people I have met at the council that have been successful, I asked them to serve as volunteers in the college and after I interacted with them, made me have a chance to know whether they are good speakers," Sorensen said.
This will be the third time Calhoun has spoken on campus, and the first since 2005. He was also on the cover of Pamplin Magazine in the fall of 2005 as the university's commencement speaker that year.
"I will probably touch on some life lessons I learned at Tech that have served me well personally and professionally." Calhoun said via e-mail.
Later, businessman Nick D'Angelo will give a speech entitled "Ut Prosim" on Thursday, Oct.1, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., in the Alumni Assembly Hall at the Holtzman Alumni Center.
D'Angelo was recognized as the "Outstanding Recent Alum" last year, and he also serves both on the Alumni Advisory Board of Pamplin's finance department and as a member of the Charlotte, N.C., chapter of the Campaign for Virginia Tech.
Dial president and CEO Brad Casper will speak in "Leaving the Comfort Zone: Managing in the Global Economy," on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Holtzman Alumni Center's Alumni Assembly Hall.
Casper graduated from Tech with a bachelor's degree in finance in 1982. He has been the president and CEO of Dial since April 2005.
Calhoun and the Nielsen Company will also attend Pamplin's 27th annual Business Horizons career fair today, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Commonwealth Ballroom in Squires.
"We're always interested in meeting people who are passionate, intellectually curious and have an appreciation for the diversity of the global market," Calhoun said via e-mail. "Focus your career path ... on being part of a company whose culture and leadership supports and conveys a strong commitment to employee growth and learning."