Business Insights Series
About the Business Insights Series
The Business Insights Series (BIS) is presented by the School of Business and Economics. Speakers address topics of interest and concern to business leaders in the Southern California region. The distinguished speaker series is held quarterly showcasing experts in their fields. This program provides strategic insights for growing businesses and developing high-performing leaders, contributing to one’s professional and personal growth while contributing to the economic vitality of the region.
The BIS provides
- Timely insights from leading business and academic experts
- Best business practices
- Continuing education for professional development and your personal leadership capabilities
- Specifically designed for business owners, and senior executives and emerging leaders of growing enterprises
“I want to thank you for leading and hosting the Business Insight Series this morning. It is a great opportunity for me to receive some good insight on business topics written by the business leaders of our day. In addition, it is an opportunity for me to minster to my team that I work with and bring them to a Christian event that they may not otherwise attend. The topics are relevant to our lives as businessmen and in a Christian setting, expose some to the gospel that may not have come on their own. I just want to send a quick note of appreciation and let you know that I look forward to participating in future events. Thank you” Mark, VP
Contact
For more information regarding the Business Insights Series, to suggest speakers or topics or become a sponsor, please contact: [email protected] or call George Wright at 949-214-3379.
Upcoming Event
Storytelling: The Future of Marketing
Speaker: Sonya Lee
Product Designer, Startup Consultant & Entrepreneur
Thursday, January 23, 2020
7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Networking and breakfast: 7:00 a.m.
Speaker: 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
Concordia University Irvine
Grimm Hall North, H.E. Durbin ’93 Family Conference Center
1530 Concordia West, Irvine, CA 92612
It all starts with the shifts your business is trying to make, your growth strategy, and the aspirations for your product. We can address these through product & brand strategy, positioning, design development, visual identity, customer and user experience, and software, app, platform development.
Learning Opportunities:
- Best practices to attract, retain and engage customers.
- The difference between user experience (UX) and customer experience (CX).
- How to instill design-thinking, journey maps to lift your revenue by 40%
About the Speaker: Sonya Lee is a keynote speaker, startup consultant and UX design expert. By age 26, she became an award-winning web designer and has the honor of being called “disruptive” when helping Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, launch Disney.com. She has worked on brands for Warner Bros, AT&T, TrueCar, Adobe, and Cisco, and launched several companies.
With more than 20 years of experience in branding, product design, technology, and marketing, she now helps Fortune 100 companies and business owners tell better stories for visibility, momentum and growth. Sonya is also the founder of UX Your LifeTM and the UserXTM Method; frameworks designed to maximize growth and revenue.
$25 per person
CUI Alumni $15 each
Group of 4: $80
Table of 8: $250
Sponsorship VIP Table 7: $500
Breakfast Sponsor: $1,000 (2 tables)
Reservations required by 5 p.m. Thursday, January 16, 2020
Questions: [email protected] | 949-214-3379
Register Now
Past Events
Communication is a Contact Sport
Speaker: James McPartland
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Master the challenging art of communication! James dives deep into exactly what is required for effective connection, underlining the importance of intentional interaction between those involved. He shares how to enter into conversation with focus and a willingness to share the space. You will gain a fresh perspective on the meaning of full engagement and how to connect in a way that is authentic and purposeful, allowing for mutual understanding despite potentially differing points of view. Learn healthier approaches to communication that will strengthen both personal and professional relationships. Understand the value of listening, the power of silence, and walk away with inspiring new strategies for achieving greater communication success.
James McPartland has over 25 years of experience working with CEOs and executives in such companies as Bank of America, IBM, Nespresso, Kellogg’s, Dow Chemical, Athletes First, and 24 Hour Fitness. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Unopened Gifts, a non-traditional business novel series aimed at helping leaders recognize how their personal issues and style contribute to their business’s challenges and how to change them.
Emotional Intelligence for Improving Your Leadership
Speaker: Steve VerBurg
Thursday, June 6, 2019
The Emotional Intelligence for Improving Your Leadership workshop focused on how you can lead with Emotional Intelligence to help identify your own strengths and weaknesses in order to take control of your actions and feelings. Then you can focus on understanding others and on using effective approaches to build collaboration.
Participants Empowered to:
- Build an atmosphere of enhanced trust, credibility and respect.
- Identify your style and how you react under pressure
- Modify your behavior to influence the attitudes and actions of others.
Steve VerBurg is the co-owner of Dale Carnegie of Orange County. He specializes in helping organizations plan and implement employee engagement programs that guide teams to increase profitably, production and performance. He is also an author, speaker, consultant, coach, and corporate trainer.
Leading Generation Z
Speaker: Jake Aguas
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Jake Aguas is an organizational consultant, entrepreneur, and professor of management. With nearly three decades of experience in the banking and market research industries, Jake has held leadership positions with Fortune 100 companies as well as with one of the country’s top polling firms. He spent 15 years with JPMorgan Chase as a leader in its retail bank division, notably serving as its Human Resource Manager for Talent Acquisition for the Western United States.
His work has been featured in academic journals, industry conferences, and he is the author of an upcoming book on generational difference to be published by Kendall Hunt Publishing.
View Presentation
Creating a Culture of Happiness: Transform Your Organization’s Culture and Improve Business Outcomes
Speaker: Nancy Drew
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Nancy Drew is an accomplished health and wellness expert and cable TV reporter for the Wellness Channel. Her energetic, fun and fresh approach has made her the go-to authority for inspiring business leaders and giving them the tools to create healthier, happier and more successful companies and employees. Nancy’s memorable and action-packed presentations take audiences on a journey filled with laughter and tears as she shares her own experiences, from being homeless to rising to the top of the health and wellness industry, and working with the likes of Interpol Policing, Waste Management and Chevron. Ms. Drew’s accomplishments include winning the San Diego Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Award and regular television appearances as a fitness and health coach on Wake-Up San Diego and the Wellness Hour. Nancy also spends endless hours working with high risk teens and foster care kids teaching healthy life skills including how to build resiliency and live happy fulfilled lives. Nancy captivates audiences and leads them through a transformative experience, empowering them with exciting and easy-to-implement strategies for enhancing health and happiness, increasing performance and productivity, and realizing that in business and in life you really can have it all!
How to Understand & Mitigate the Unintended Consequences of Your Business Decisions
Speaker: Richard Franzi
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Richard Franzi is the Founder and CEO of Critical Mass for Business, a premium social/peer learning firm for executives who lead firms with annual revenue between $5 million and $50 million. He is a business partner with Renaissance Executive Forums, a leading international advisory board firm founded in 1994 and currently chairs CEO Peer Groups' throughout Los Angeles and and Orange County, CA. Richard's work and research have been featured in national media: Forbes.com, INC.com, CNBC.com, American Express OPEN Forum, and various talk shows, as well as Southern California publications: Orange County Business Journal, Orange County Register, and OC Metro Minute. His business talk show, Critical Mass Radio Show, has showcased over 1,200 interviews and is available on iTunes, iHeart Radio, Sticher and various podcasting platforms.
Intrapreneurship: Changing Business Culture from the Inside Out
Speaker: Justin Nimergood
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Business Coach, Organizational Consultant, Motivational Speaker/Trainer, Former Western U.S Leader, CISCO Author of Intrapreneurship: Changing Business Culture From the Inside Out Learn the best at your craft by mastering yourself and taking massive, determined action. How to be an effective leader intentionally helping others and adding value to their lives. How to interpret trends and apply them within your organization to create alignment. Justin Nimergood is a high-energy, competitive and methodical channel sales leader who is well versed in leading cross-functional, matrixed teams to achieve measurable growth objectives by fostering collaboration and communication.
"Make Big Happen: How to Live, Work, and Give Big"
Speaker: Mark Moses
Friday, January 12, 2018
Founding Partner, CEO Coaching International, Speaker
Author of the international bestselling book, Make Big Happen: How to Live, Work and Give Big.
Learn what it takes to be a top performer and build the life you want, to overcome adversity in your business and life, and ask better questions to get better results. Mark Moses’ firm coaches clients on how to dramatically grow their revenue and profits; implement the most effective strategies; become better leaders; grow their people; build accountability systems and evaluate their own performance.
"The Secret to Top Level Performance in Business and Life"
Speaker: Dr. Betty Uribe
Friday, October 27 2017
Executive Vice President, California Bank and Trust; Entrepreneur, Speaker, Philanthropist
Author of #Values: The Secret to Top Level Performance in Business and Life.
Dr. Uribe shared her own leadership journey and how she discovered that leaders with clear and sound values were the most effective in their profession and their lives.
The Power of Emotional Connection in Leadership
Speaker: Lola Gershfeld, PsyD.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Board Dynamics Specialist, Founder, and CEO of Level Five Executive, Newport Beach (Orange County, CA). Author of TRUSTMAKERS and Effective Board Dynamics Guide for CEOs and Directors. Everyone wants to be a more effective leader – becoming one starts with emotional connection. Understanding emotion allows you to increase trust, collaboration, and results.
Building Blocks for Breakthrough Results (Or 52 Hot Tips to Get You Started)
Speaker: Joan Smith
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Over 100,000 business leaders have learned business-changing breakthrough strategies from Joan over the last ten years. Using her “straight talk” approach, she has enabled people to go beyond their expectations. And she can help you get your new year started off right.
The 4 Essentials of Entrepreneurial Thinking: What Successful People Didn’t Learn in School
Speaker: Cliff Michael
Entrepreneur, NY Times bestselling author, Strategic Coach & Venture Consultant---Essential Trainer for Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Pick Up Stix: The Making of a Brand - The Founder's Insights
Speaker: Charles Zhang, Founder, Pick Up Stix and Founder/CEO, Zion Enterprises.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
"The Business Case for Servant Leadership-How Culture Trumps Strategy"
Speaker: Art Barter
Owner and Cultural Architect, Datron World Communications, Inc.
CEO & Founder, Servant Leadership Institute
Thursday, April 9, 2015
"The Leadership Challenge: How To Make Extraordinary Things Happen In Organizations"
Speaker: Barry Posner
Featured world-renowned leadership expert, speaker and author Dr. Barry Z. Posner, named as one of the nation’s top management and leadership educators.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
"Startup Leadership: How Savvy Entrepreneurs Turn Their Ideas Into Successful Enterprises"
Speaker: Dr. Derek B. Lidow
Leadership expert, CEO, Entrepreneur, Princeton University Entrepreneurship Professor, and Start-up Coach, Dr. Derek B. Lidow, founder/CEO (iSuppli) and authority on the global electronics industry, will shared findings from his research and book, “Startup Leadership.”
Thursday, October 30, 2014
"Ego vs. EQ – How Top Leaders Beat 8 Ego Traps With Emotional Intelligence"
Speaker: Jen Shirkani
Emotional Intelligence Expert and Author Jen Shirkani Offers Insights from Her Book “Ego vs EQ,” nominated for a 2014 USA Best Book Award
Thursday, September 18, 2014
"What Great Brands Do, Seven Brand Building Principles That Separate the Best from the Rest"
Speaker: Denise Lee Yohn
Business leader and Author of What Great Brands Do, Seven Brand Building Principles That Separate the Best from the Rest
Tuesday, January 28th, 2014
"The Three E's of Entrepreneurship: Experience, Enthusiasm, & Excellence"
Speaker: Tracey Jones
President, Tremendous Life Books (Pennsylvania)
Thursday, September 12, 2013
"Fire Your Excuses and Perform at a Higher Level. It's Time!"
Speaker: Dr. Bill Dyment & Associates (Costa Mesa, CA)
Author, Fire Your Excuses
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
"Entrepreneurism: Insights on Increasing Corporate Value and Speeding Growth in Today's Global Economy"
Speaker: Dave Berkus, Berkus Technology Ventures, LLC
Author of Basic Berkonomics, Berkonomics, & Advanced Berkonmonics
November 15, 2012
"Learn How To Make Your Ideas Fly"
Speaker: Charles Lee, CEO, Ideation
Author of Good Idea. Now What?
September 27, 2012
The presentation was to help individuals, companies, and organizations that are seeking to better implement their ideas.
"7 Practices of a Godly Business Leader"
Speaker: Rick Boxx, President and Founder of Integrity Resources Center
August 23, 2012
In the fast-paced, secular business world, many Christians leave their faith at the door. Businessman, author, radio personality, and speaker, Rick Boxx, had some Biblical insights to share.
Special thanks to our sponsors
