Deans Counsel

David Ikenberry / James Ellis / Ken Kring
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Being a Dean in today’s modern university is without a doubt one of the most challenging jobs in higher education. With ever changing tensions and pressures from conflicting constituencies, the job can be both overwhelming yet intensely invigorating at the same time. However, by design, it’s also one of the most lonely jobs in the Academy. Where can one turn for confidential advice? In this podcast we interview Business School Deans peer-to-peer to hear their perspective on a wide variety of pressing issues. Please join your panelists Ken Kring, Senior Client Partner in the Philadelphia office for the search firm Korn Ferry and Co- Managing Director of their Global Education Practice, Jim Ellis, former dean of the Marshal School at the University of Southern California and Dave Ikenberry, former dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder for this latest edition of ….. “Deans Counsel.”

  1. 6D AGO

    80: Vallabh Sambamurthy (Wisconsin) Does A Deep Dive Into External Relations

    On this episode of Deans Counsel, hosts Jim Ellis, Dave Ikenberry and Ken Kring speak with Vallabh "Samba" Sambamurthy, the Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business. Recognized as an impactful administrator, attentive leader, and preeminent scholar in the areas of innovation and digital strategy, Dr. Sambamurthy brings extensive experience to the dean position. Samba has been recognized for his contributions to teaching, research, outreach, and mentoring. This varied discussion focuses on his efforts at building relationships with communities beyond campus borders, and collects Samba's ideas on such issues as: - Outreach to parents  - Building a fundamentally rich Exec Ed curriculum   - His holistic approach to corporate relations  - Nurturing corporate relationships which aid faculty research - Using CRMs  Learn more about Samba Sambamurthy. Comments/criticism/suggestions/feedback? We'd love to hear it. Drop us a note. Thanks for listening. - Produced by Joel Davis at Analog Digital Arts -- DEANS COUNSEL: A podcast for deans and academic leadership. James Ellis | Moderator | Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2007-2019) David Ikenberry | Moderator | Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011-2016) Ken Kring | Moderator | Co-Managing Director, Global Education Practice and Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry DeansCounsel.com

    42 min

  2. JAN 9

    79: (DC REWIND) Blair Sheppard (Duke) on What's Next in Higher Academia

    [This recording of Deans Counsel originally published on July 25, 2025 as episode #67.] On this episode of Deans Counsel, Jim Ellis and Ken Kring speak with Blair Sheppard, Special Advisor to Duke Kunshan University, and previously Dean of Duke's Fuqua School of Business. Blair is responsible for directing all of Duke Kunshan's fundraising, corporate development, non-degree program development and regional development for the newly formed campus in China. From 2012-2024, Blair served as Global Leader for Strategy and Leadership at PwC, where he focused on building resilient strategies and leadership for PwC worldwide, and further sharpened his ability to see further into the future than most of the rest of us. In this episode, we hear very compelling observations from Blair about four key mega-trends -- climate, technology, global forces and aging -- that he feels will fundamentally reshape every aspect of society (including business, of course).  With us, he shares some insight into how business schools, through their research and teaching, must soon lean into these abrupt changes in societal needs. In so doing, he also lends advice as to how we as leaders should go about the change process of taking faculty through this difficult process, touching on topics such as: - Why some long-held assumptions are no longer holding - Our rapidly changing world's impact on curriculum - Rethinking the teaching of strategy - How Ai will shape demand for the MBA Learn more about Blair Sheppard. Comments/criticism/suggestions/feedback? We'd love to hear it. Drop us a note. Thanks for listening. - Produced by Joel Davis at Analog Digital Arts -- DEANS COUNSEL: A podcast for deans and academic leadership. James Ellis | Moderator | Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2007-2019) David Ikenberry | Moderator | Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011-2016) Ken Kring | Moderator | Co-Managing Director, Global Education Practice and Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry DeansCounsel.com

    38 min

  3. 12/26/2025

    78: (DC REWIND): Bernie Banks (Rice) on Leadership Development at Large Scale

    [This recording of Deans Counsel originally published on August 22, 2025 as episode #69.] On this episode of Deans Counsel, Jim Ellis and Dave Ikenberry speak with Bernard "Bernie" Banks, Director of Rice University’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders (and a Clinical Professor of Management within the University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business). The mission of the Doerr Institute “…is to elevate the leadership capacity of Rice students and to improve the practice of leader development in higher education.”   Most recently, Bernie served on the faculty and senior leadership team at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management from 2016-2024 prior to arriving at Rice. Bernie retired from the U.S. Army in 2016 as a Brigadier General after having successfully led West Point’s Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership in his final assignment. In addition to having studied leadership extensively, he has led multiple military units ranging in size from 10 to over 3000 people.   In this instructive conversation, Bernie relates to our hosts some of the experiences he's gleaned through his decades as an inspiring leader, touching on topics such as: - his objectives as Director of the Doerr Institute - how he measures effectiveness - acquainting students with the leadership mindset - creative approaches to leadership development Learn more about Bernie Banks. Comments/criticism/suggestions/feedback? We'd love to hear it. Drop us a note at feedback@deanscounsel.com Thanks for listening. - Produced by Joel Davis at Analog Digital Arts -- DEANS COUNSEL: A podcast for deans and academic leadership. James Ellis | Moderator | Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2007-2019) David Ikenberry | Moderator | Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011-2016) Ken Kring | Moderator | Co-Managing Director, Global Education Practice and Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry DeansCounsel.com

    37 min

  4. 12/12/2025

    77: Nate Sharp (Texas A&M) on Launching Flex On-Line Masters Programs

    On this episode of Deans Counsel, hosts Dave Ikenberry and Ken Kring speak with Nate Sharp, the Dean of Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, where he is leading the school through a period of historic growth and innovation. His tenure has been marked by record-setting fundraising, the first media campaign to enhance Mays’ national reputation, the opening of the first new building at Mays in more than two decades, and the launch of an ambitious graduate facility project slated for completion in early 2029. Just as importantly, he has prioritized investment in faculty and staff, building strong teams and fostering a culture of recognizing and rewarding excellence in research, teaching, and service.  Nate is a respected scholar in the area of financial reporting, and his research has received multiple best-paper awards. As you'll learn in this episode, he believes the future of business education belongs to leaders who embrace change, take risks, and stay true to their institution’s values. In this engaging discussion, Nate shares his unique insights on Deaning, covering topics such as: - Dealing with resistance to change  - Building state-of-the-art On-line masters programs - Visiting deans at aspiring schools  - The Texas political climate  Learn more about Nate Sharp. Comments/criticism/suggestions/feedback? We'd love to hear it. Drop us a note. Thanks for listening. - Produced by Joel Davis at Analog Digital Arts -- DEANS COUNSEL: A podcast for deans and academic leadership. James Ellis | Moderator | Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2007-2019) David Ikenberry | Moderator | Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011-2016) Ken Kring | Moderator | Co-Managing Director, Global Education Practice and Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry DeansCounsel.com

    43 min

  5. 11/28/2025

    76: Bridget Madrian (BYU): The "Insider" Comes Home

    On this episode of Deans Counsel, hosts Dave Ikenberry and Jim Ellis speak with Bridget Madrian, the Dean and Marriott Distinguished Professor in the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business where she has a joint appointment in the Department of Finance and the George W. Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics.  Bridget Madrian studied economics at BYU as an undergrad, and after obtaining her Ph.D at MIT, she served on the business school faculty at Harvard, University of Chicago, Wharton and Harvard Kennedy before returning to BYU for her current role. In this wide-ranging interview, Bridget shares her insights on Deaning, covering topics such as: - Bridget's journey back to BYU - Initial Challenges and Surprises she's faced as a Dean - Strategies for balancing work with her personal life - How she's improved BYU's already-excellent accounting program - Her approach to implementing her strategic vision and mission Learn more about Bridget Madrian. Comments/criticism/suggestions/feedback? We'd love to hear it. Drop us a note. Thanks for listening. - Produced by Joel Davis at Analog Digital Arts -- DEANS COUNSEL: A podcast for deans and academic leadership. James Ellis | Moderator | Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2007-2019) David Ikenberry | Moderator | Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011-2016) Ken Kring | Moderator | Co-Managing Director, Global Education Practice and Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry DeansCounsel.com

    37 min

  6. 11/14/2025

    75: Ian Williamson (UC-Irvine) on Preparing for the Future of Work

    This episode of Deans Counsel is the last of three featuring special guest host, Alex Triantis, Dean of the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University, and a previous guest (on Episode 16) of the podcast. Alex and co-host Dave Ikenberry speak with Ian Williamson, Dean of the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California-Irvine, since January 2021. Ian is a globally recognized expert in the area of human resource management. His research examines the impact of “talent pipelines” on organizational and community outcomes. Williamson has assisted executives in over 20 countries across six continents enhance firm operational and financial outcomes, improve talent recruitment and retention, enhance firm innovation and understand the impact of social issues on firm outcomes. Ian recently published "The Conversation on Work," a book examining the shifting landscape for graduate business careers. Much of today's discussion revolves around this multi-faceted topic, and touches upon: --the dramatic changes workers and the tools they use have undergone --employer expectations and what they look for in business school graduates --current and future demand for business undergrads --international mobility   Learn more about Ian Williamson Learn more about our special guest host, Alex Triantis Comments/criticism/suggestions/feedback? We'd love to hear it. Drop us a note. Thanks for listening. - Produced by Joel Davis at Analog Digital Arts -- DEANS COUNSEL: A podcast for deans and academic leadership. James Ellis | Moderator | Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2007-2019) David Ikenberry | Moderator | Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011-2016) Ken Kring | Moderator | Co-Managing Director, Global Education Practice and Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry DeansCounsel.com

    31 min

  7. 10/31/2025

    74: Francisco Veloso (INSEAD) on The Truly Multinational Business School

    This episode of Deans Counsel is the second of three featuring special guest host, Alex Triantis, Dean of the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University, and a previous guest (on Episode 16) of the podcast. Alex and co-host Jim Ellis speak with Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD, The Business School for the World. Professor Veloso joined INSEAD from Imperial College Business School, where he served as Dean from 2017 to 2023. Previously, he was the Dean at Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics in Portugal. Professor Veloso is a leading authority in entrepreneurship and innovation and his expertise is recognized by government and policy makers. He previously acted as an advisor on innovation, entrepreneurship and industrial development to both the Portuguese Government and to European Commissioner Carlos Moedas. He is also a trusted advisor and Board Member to several startups and established firms.  In this internationally-focused conversation, Veloso talks about the first two years of his experience managing a truly global business school with campuses in Europe, Asia, Middle East and the US. Some of the highlights include: -changes in international student flow during this period of protectionism -investment in career services -managing faculty -- and his time -- across multiple international locations -Francisco's advice for deans Learn more about Francisco Veloso Learn more about our special guest host, Alex Triantis Comments/criticism/suggestions/feedback? We'd love to hear it. Drop us a note. Thanks for listening. - Produced by Joel Davis at Analog Digital Arts -- DEANS COUNSEL: A podcast for deans and academic leadership. James Ellis | Moderator | Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2007-2019) David Ikenberry | Moderator | Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011-2016) Ken Kring | Moderator | Co-Managing Director, Global Education Practice and Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry DeansCounsel.com

    37 min

  8. 10/17/2025

    73: Lee Newman (Instituto de Empresa - IE) on Driving Innovation

    This episode of Deans Counsel is the first of three featuring special guest host, Alex Triantis, Dean of the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University, and a previous guest (on Episode 16) of the podcast. Alex and co-host Ken Kring speak with Lee Newman, Dean of Instituto de Impresa (IE) Business School and a professor of Behavioral Science and Leadership at IE University in Madrid, Spain. After years of experience as a consultant and technology entrepreneur, following his MBA and Masters in Technology and Policy from MIT, Lee returned to school in 2009 to get his PhD from the University of Michigan. His interdisciplinary PhD combined the fields of cognitive psychology and computer science, focusing on AI and cognitive neuroscience while those fields were still in their infancy. Soon after launching his professorial career at IE, he was asked to lead a new School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, which later morphed into the School of Human Science and Technology. After 11 years of leading those two schools, he was selected to lead IE Business School in 2021, at a university founded by entrepreneurs.  In this informative episode, Lee:  -reflects on why innovation is now so critical for business education, particularly in the age of AI -explains why it's important for a business school to be market-centric -describes why a focus on competency-based learning will transform how business is taught in the future -spells out how business must mix with other disciplines to better foster the skill of strategic foresight Learn more about Lee Newman Learn more about our special guest host, Alex Triantis Comments/criticism/suggestions/feedback? We'd love to hear it. Drop us a note. Thanks for listening. - Produced by Joel Davis at Analog Digital Arts -- DEANS COUNSEL: A podcast for deans and academic leadership. James Ellis | Moderator | Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2007-2019) David Ikenberry | Moderator | Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011-2016) Ken Kring | Moderator | Co-Managing Director, Global Education Practice and Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry DeansCounsel.com

    33 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Being a Dean in today’s modern university is without a doubt one of the most challenging jobs in higher education. With ever changing tensions and pressures from conflicting constituencies, the job can be both overwhelming yet intensely invigorating at the same time. However, by design, it’s also one of the most lonely jobs in the Academy. Where can one turn for confidential advice? In this podcast we interview Business School Deans peer-to-peer to hear their perspective on a wide variety of pressing issues. Please join your panelists Ken Kring, Senior Client Partner in the Philadelphia office for the search firm Korn Ferry and Co- Managing Director of their Global Education Practice, Jim Ellis, former dean of the Marshal School at the University of Southern California and Dave Ikenberry, former dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder for this latest edition of ….. “Deans Counsel.”

Information

  • Creator
    David Ikenberry / James Ellis / Ken Kring
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 Deans Counsel
  • Show Website
    Deans Counsel