How to align your professional path with your true passion and build a lasting legacy.
This course examines the transition from traditional corporate leadership to roles in academia and advisory boards, emphasizing the importance of aligning professional work with personal passion. It covers the mechanics of building and maintaining a diverse portfolio of board positions, the necessity of active listening in mentorship, and the strategic use of a blank-sheet approach to career planning. The material also addresses the challenges of managing competing stakeholder interests, the role of vision in organizational success, and the importance of knowing oneself to make informed career transitions.
Motivational & Leadership Speaker
Adam Mendler is a nationally recognized authority on leadership, renowned for his unique ability to deliver perspective-shifting insights shaped by interviewing more than 500 of America’s most successful leaders. The creator and host of the top-rated business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, Adam regularly elicits insights from America's top CEOs, founders, athletes, celebrities, and political and military leaders. A keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations, Adam has written extensively on business and leadership, having authored more than 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc., and HuffPost. A Los Angeles native and lifelong Angels fan, Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA, serves on the board of UCLA’s Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science program, is an emeritus member of USC’s Board of Governors, and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders.
Award-winning entrepreneur, leader in higher education, and author of “A Journey of Insights”
Jim Ellis served as the Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, from April 2007 until June 2019. Prior to being appointed Dean, he was the Vice Provost, Globalization, for the University, responsible for building the USC name worldwide. He retired as a Professor of Marketing, a position he held for twenty- five years, in July 2021. Holding an MBA degree from the Harvard University and a BBA degree from the University of New Mexico, Mr. Ellis served as President/CEO of Porsche Design, a high- end accessories company owned by Europe’s Porsche family. Additionally, he was CEO of Port O’Call Pasadena, a high–end home accessory chain, and owner/ partner in six other companies, during his twenty–seven–year business career. Ellis sits on numerous corporate boards of directors, of both public and private companies, continuing direct involvement in the business arena. He has been a member of the Young Presidents Organization since 1986, where he served on its international board. Additionally, he was a member of Chief Executives Organization, and on that international board as well. He also serves on the Board of the Rose Hills Foundation, a charitable organization, and of the University of New Mexico Foundation board. He has addressed many organizations around the world on various business topics. At USC, he was awarded both the “Teaching Has No Boundaries” award, given by the faculty, and the Golden Apple Award, given by the students. Additionally, he received the Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring Award from the USC Parents‘ Association.
