The University of Missouri-Kansas City Henry W. Bloch School of Management welcomed some of Kansas City’s most well-known and respected business leaders.
The CEO Academy kicked off with a two-day event at the Bloch School, and was born from the collective vision of former chief executive officers Bill Zollars of YRC Worldwide, Greg Graves of Burns & McDonnell and Dan Hesse of Sprint. Their experiences as executives inspired them to create a program that would educate and inspire the next generation of leaders.
“Bill, Greg and Dan fondly recall how when they started out as a CEO, established business leaders in Kansas City reached out to offer support and connect them with their network,” said Brian Klaas, dean of the Bloch School. “They wanted to find a way to offer a program that would offer that same kind of support to Kansas City’s next generation of business leaders.”
The Bloch School has a strong tradition of leadership development and a reputation for cultivating senior business talent. The CEO Academy serves as a perfect extension of its mission.
“We’re committed to helping to develop the next generation of leaders, and this outstanding program helps showcase the opportunities available at the Bloch School,” Klaas said.
A standout feature of the CEO Academy is its impressive faculty. Among them and joining Graves, Hesse and Zollars were:
- Mark Donovan, president of the Kansas City Chiefs
- Beryl Raff, retired CEO of Helzberg Diamonds
- Brent Shafer, former CEO of Cerner
- David Feinberg, chair of Oracle Health and former CEO of Cerner
- Brent Stewart, former CEO of United Way of Greater Kansas City
- Dave Dillon, retired CEO of Kroger
Donovan kicked off the two-day event with a lesson in championing success. Prior to his role as president of the Kansas City Chiefs, Donovan's experiences took him through roles with the National Hockey League, the National Football League and the Philadelphia Eagles.
"I'm a big believer in stages of leadership," said Donovan. "My experiences early on with the NHL, in Philadelphia with the Eagles and now in Kansas City have allowed me to grow into the leader I am today."
Participants in the academy were taken through practical, hands-on learning while developing critical, often underappreciated, skills essential for top-level performance. The CEO Academy focuses on teaching participants how to actively listen, absorb feedback and incorporate it into strategic decision-making. Other courses addressed how to overcome barriers to innovation, build a strong company culture and ultimately how to become a CEO, which is something all in attendance aspire to and faculty members provided advice on.
Graves said: "It's important to be an authentic listener. Almost all of your best ideas are going to come from someone else's ideas or thoughts or energies and if you are a really good listener, a lot of great people will want."
Feinberg said: "Be humble, be passionate and have humility. Beyond that, be present. As soon as you realize that the key is to be completely present in the moment, I have found that that's opened more doors than I could have ever opened by only worrying about what's next."
Raff said: "I think you have to have passion for whatever it is that you want to take on. Without passion, you won't do well at it, and you can't have success. The passion for what you're doing is critically important."
Shafer said: "You want to try and learn from everyone you work with, those that are great leaders and those that are not so great. Learn the good and the bad. Learn how to apply it and keep the energy and passion for the business you're involved in."
The CEO Academy is not just about developing individual leaders, it’s about investing in Kansas City’s future. Zollars, Hesse and the other faculty members are dedicated to giving back to the business community that supported them throughout their careers.
“By offering their expertise on a pro-bono basis, they ensure that the CEO Academy remains accessible,” Klaas said. “Fees generated from the program fund scholarships for Bloch School initiatives.”
The CEO Academy will return to the Henry W. Bloch School of Management in 2025.