A woman who oversaw more than 50,000 employees as the leader of a corporation is coming to Heidelberg University.
Betsy Bernard, former president of AT&T, is the next speaker in Heidelberg's Patricia Adams Lecture Series. Her speech is titled "The Seven Golden Rules of Leadership."
The dinner and lecture are 7 p.m. March 31. A reception is to precede the event at 6:15 p.m.
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Bernard
Kathy Venema, associate vice president for institutional advancement and alumni relations, is a non-voting member of the faculty, staff and student committee that selects speakers for the lecture series. She also assists with logistics for the speaker's visit.
She said Bernard, whose name was recommended to the committee, has extensive business experience and is a successful female leader.
"That's what the series is designed to highlight," she said.
Fact Box
If you go
Betsy Bernard's presentation March 31 is to be part of a
dinner/lecture event beginning at 7 p.m. A reception is to precede the event at 6:15 p.m. Cost
is $25 per person, and reservations can be made by
completing the online form at www.heidelberg.edu/adams.
Bernard, a New Jersey resident, worked for AT&T for 25 years. She was on Fortune Magazine's list of "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" for three straight years and served in senior executive leadership positions at US West, Pacific Bell and Qwest Communications, according to a release from Heidelberg.
Bernard is to spend two days on Heidelberg's campus, the release states.
Venema said Bernard is going to have a small-group discussion at breakfast with female students.
She also is going to have a presentation with first- and second-year students to give them advice about how to take advantage of their college experience. Another presentation with upperclass students is to discuss preparing for a career in a corporate world and career mentors.
Bernard is going to offer a session about running effective meetings and is to be interviewed by a business faculty member. There is to be a reception with students and another reception before the dinner and lecture.
Venema said members of the Heidelberg community are to have multiple opportunities to interact with Bernard in formal and informal settings. The Adams' goal was to get the visiting business leader to spend as much time with students as possible, she said.
The Patricia Adams Lecture Series is named for the wife of John Adams Sr., a Heidelberg graduate and member of the board of trustees.
Patricia has said the lecture series will bring to campus outstanding female speakers from a broad spectrum of personal and professional backgrounds.
