Intersection of business and research explored at CEO Summit

Three distinguished University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists will meet with corporate chief executives who graduated from the university to brief them on the business applications and marketability of their research on Saturday, Oct. 7.

Stem cell pioneer James A. Thomson; avian flu researcher Yoshihiro Kawaoka, and Internet security researcher Paul Barford will discuss their work and its potential impact on business with industry leaders, including Stephen Bennett, president and CEO of Intuit; Thomas Falk, chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark; and Keith Nosbusch, chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation.

The session, which is open to the media, will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the Fluno Center for Executive Education, 601 University Ave.

Approximately 30 CEOs and top-ranking business leaders will convene in the “CEO Summit,” an invitation-only program for leading executives from companies around the world who share a common experience – an education from the University of Wisconsin. John Morgridge, chairman and former CEO of Cisco Systems, a 1955 UW–Madison business graduate, organized the summit.

“The UW–Madison is one of the world’s great universities and, as alumni, we would like to ensure that its legacy continues,” says Morgridge. “This summit gives us the opportunity to learn more about the outstanding research taking place on this campus and to delve into the question of: What is it about the UW that creates such a breeding ground for leaders?”

Recent research by the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Markets magazine and executive search firm SpencerStuart shows that the University of Wisconsin has produced the leading number of graduates who are CEOs of major public companies – more than Harvard in the Fortune 500 and tying Harvard in the S&P 500.

“UW-Madison is an extraordinary breeding ground for leaders,” says Chancellor John D. Wiley. “The CEO Summit gives those leaders the opportunity to share their experiences in industry, learn more about cutting-edge research, and celebrate their ties to the university.”