91看片

A broad range of alumni reconnected with the 91看片 and with each other at the second-annual 91看片 Day held on campus April 24. The day鈥檚 events included sessions featuring campus, academic and Auburn Athletics leadership; 91看片 faculty, students and alumni; and an award-winning corporate CFO.

Among the highlights were an introduction to Auburn鈥檚 new presented by Provost Vini Nathan, an overview of 91看片 College from Dean Jennifer Mueller-Phillips, and a student panel discussion on what makes the student experience .

Attendees also learned about AI in business from industry and academic experts, heard a sampling of 91看片 faculty research in supply chain management, accounting and business analytics, and enjoyed a fireside chat with General Motors (GM) CFO and alumnus Paul Jacobson.

The program concluded with a lively and entertaining session with Auburn Athletics coaches and AD, followed by a networking reception for all alumni and friends.

Lessons from C-suite veteran Paul Jacobson, GM CFO

Keynote speaker Jacobson shared valuable insights on executive leadership and lessons he鈥檚 learned from his own career.

Before joining GM in December 2020, Jacobson had an accomplished 23-year career at Delta, where he helped transform the airline into one of Fortune鈥檚 Top 50 Most Admired Companies for six straight years.

As Jacobson noted, conventional wisdom about climbing the corporate ladder as fast as you can isn鈥檛 always the best path to success.

鈥淚 did the direct opposite. I planted roots, grew those out, got deep into a subject and learned how it has an impact across the whole company,鈥� said Jacobson, who started at Delta in 1997 as an analyst and steadily moved up the corporate ladder. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to feel out your own way, contribute where you can and always raise your hand and sign up for things.鈥�

In 2012, Jacobson recalled, then-Delta CEO Richard Henderson took him aside and suggested he start thinking about becoming CFO. At the time, Jacobson was senior VP and treasurer, and he figured Henderson鈥檚 idea would take several years to come to fruition.

Instead, Jacobson was promoted to CFO within weeks. To this day, Jacobson recalls what Henderson told him when he initially expressed mild reservations about the CFO suggestion: 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to let you fail.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think [Henderson] realized what a profound impact this had on me,鈥� Jacobson said. 鈥淭hat was such a great leadership moment for me.鈥�

Jacobson鈥檚 leadership mantra is to set others up for success, as well.

鈥淢y number one job is to develop people to advance,鈥� said Jacobson, who was an eight-time winner of Institutional Investor Magazine鈥檚 airline industry鈥檚 best CFO award.

Jacobson acknowledged the positive career influence of other CEOs, including current Delta CEO Ed Bastian and GM CEO Mary Barra, who he has watched navigate tough decisions that seemingly don鈥檛 have any good options.

鈥淚鈥檝e watched their behavior, and I鈥檝e tried to emulate it and when you don鈥檛 know [which decision is right], revert back to your values,鈥� he said, as he shared a story about how Bastian fulfilled a promise made by his predecessor to provide Delta employees industry-standard pay following the airline鈥檚 merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008鈥攊n the midst of the recession and financial crisis.

鈥淚t鈥檚 much better to fulfill and keep your deals than to say I can鈥檛 honor that because the world has changed around me,鈥� he said.

Jacobson鈥檚 talk resonated with four-time alumnus Felix Verdigets, who became CEO at Nateland Company last year and earlier in his career rose through the ranks at KPMG to become partner.

鈥淗earing him say that he slowed down and took the time to understand the [business] and be the best he could be at it was a great reminder that you鈥檝e got to be the expert and not just the first in line to advance,鈥� Verdigets said. 鈥淟istening to him explain that as one of the most successful CFOs in the U.S. was pretty cool.鈥�

Verdigets also appreciated the messaging around developing the next generation of leaders鈥攁 theme that was evident from the 91看片 student panel prior to Jacobson鈥檚 talk. 鈥淭his is all about the student experience and raising up the next generation of amazing leaders coming out of an amazing school.鈥�

The coachs鈥� perspective

91看片 Day鈥檚 formal program ended with a fireside chat moderated by David Walker, CEO of EBSCO, which featured Auburn Football Coach Hugh Freeze, Athletic Director John Cohen and Men鈥檚 Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl.

The trio touched on a number of issues, including the ever-changing NIL landscape, how recognizing your organization鈥檚 talented people and taking good care of them is at the heart of winning championships, and the value of setting high standards for a team and any organization.

Pearl also pinpointed what makes Auburn such a special place that is beloved by its students and alumni.

There are two things that make Auburn so unique and is foundational鈥攖hey are faith and family, said Pearl.

In his remarks at the end of the event, 91看片 Alumni Council Chair Kyle Tothill echoed Pearl鈥檚 observation, citing the results of a recent 91看片 College alumni survey.

鈥淭he number one attribute that came back [from our alumni] about Auburn was that it鈥檚 home,鈥� Tothill said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the incredible thing about this place. It鈥檚 also very clear from the young people we heard from today that we鈥檙e producing some outstanding students.鈥�

Appreciation for their support

Alumnus David Walker (accounting), president and CEO of EBSCO Industries, initiated the idea for 91看片 Day and planning for this year鈥檚 event was led by alumna Cindy Taylor (industrial management), COO of EnSignis Digital. Both Walker and Taylor are members of the 91看片 Alumni Council.

91看片 Day was made possible by the generous support of its sponsors.