Business Leadership Conference

This year’s annual Business Leadership Conference is Oct. 24 and starts with keynote Matt Crisp at 9 a.m. in the Main Student Center Ballrooms.

2024 BLC Live Stream Matt Crisp

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.

New in 2024 will be the addition of a Career Fair and networking reception beginning at 12:45.

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Conference Presenters and Affiliated Companies

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2024 Keynote Speaker: Matt Crisp

Originally from Washington, Matt received his undergraduate degree from East Carolina University in Finance in ‘93 and his MBA in ‘96. Upon graduation, he moved to Atlanta, GA and began working for First Data Investor Services until 1998. He then spent three years as a Research Analyst at Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting, where he conducted manager research for large institutional clients.

In 2000, he Co-Founded an Atlanta-based Financial Technology company called eVestment, a Data & Analytics organization that services the Institutional Investment industry and served as Chief Operating Officer. The company grew from 4 original partners to 400+ employees globally with offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Sydney Australia, Dubai UAE & Tokyo Japan and regional sales offices throughout the United States & Canada. In October 2017, eVestment was acquired by publicly traded NASDAQ and remains a key component of the NASDAQ portfolio of companies to date.

As COO, Matt helped lead eVestment’s global expansion into the United Kingdom, Australia and Hong Kong from 2009-11 and was part of the Executive Team responsible for the strategic direction of the company. He also led the post-acquisition integration of nine companies, acquired by eVestment between 2010-2015, into a common operating environment and culture.

eVestment made the Inc. 5000’s list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies for 11 consecutive years from 2007-2017, qualifying it for the Inc. 5000 Hall of Fame. More importantly, eVestment was also selected by the Atlanta Business Chronicle & Atlanta Journal Constitution over multiple years as a Best Place to Work and also by Forbes magazine as a Top Technology Workplace nationally alongside Google and Amazon.

After the sale of eVestment, he now spends his time as a private investor in pre- & post-revenue companies helping fellow entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls of start-ups and growing successful businesses. Through two private investment funds, he has invested nearly $10 million in companies currently valued at approximately $4.7 billion across multiple industries & sectors.

In addition, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Ron Clark Academy (“RCA”), a globally recognized education non-profit organization founded by fellow ECU alum and childhood friend, Ron Clark. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the East Carolina University Foundation and having served as Chair of the Audit Committee and currently on Budget & Finance, as well as the Investment Committee.

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View sessions from 2023 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

Registration is now open!

Student Registration:
Business Leadership Conference Registration

Faculty, Staff, Community Registration:
Non-Student Business Leadership Conference Registration

Conference Central allows registered students to receive their conference materials prior to check-in at the conference.  Conference Central will be held October 16-18 and October 21-22 in Bate 3015 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.  Avoid lines at check-in!  Stop by Conference Central and pick up your materials!