Business Leadership Conference

The College of Business hosts this conference each year during the month of October. Visit this page for details between August and September. 

The conference brings in local titans of industry to speak to more than 1000 business students. It helps prepare our students for the realities of the business world in a professional conference environment and provides opportunities to interact with ECU’s Business Advisory Council members, esteemed alumni, employers, and community members. The event complements the intensive leadership preparation that students receive during enrollment in the business program.

The Business Leadership Conference is free for all students in the College of Business and made possible by generous donations from conference sponsors.

View sessions from 2025 Business Leadership Conference.

Past Keynote Speakers

  • 2015 – Ruffin McNeil
    ECU Head Football Coach
  • 2016 – Lynn Good
    Chairman, President & CEO Duke Energy
  • 2017 – Robert D. Cabana
    Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, Ret.; Director, Kennedy Space Center
  • 2018 – Janice Bryant Howroyd
    Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Act•1Group
  • 2019 – Brian Hamilton Founder, Inmates to Entrepreneurs
  • 2020 – Conference Cancelled due to COVID-19
  • 2021 – Ken Bouyer
    EY Americas Inclusiveness Recruiting Leader
  • 2022 – John May
    Founding and Managing Partner, CORE Industrial Partners
  • 2023 – Raj Kannan
    CEO at I-Mab
  • 2024 – Matt Crisp
    Co-Founder of eVestment
  • 2025 – Taylor Chappell, CPA
    Controller, Nucor Steel Marion – Nucor Corporation