Last modified: Wednesday, April 13, 2005
IU's Kelley School to host Graduate Business Conference
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 13, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University's Kelley School of Business on Friday and Saturday (April 15-16) will host a national business conference organized by and for MBA students.
The Graduate Business Conference is expected to attract about 100 student leaders from 30 graduate business programs in North America and Europe. It will feature Maggy Siegel, president and chief executive officer of Judith Leiber, and Alan Cohen, chairman and CEO of Finish Line. Executives from sponsoring Fortune 500 companies also will participate in panel discussions and networking functions.
The theme for the conference will be "Creating Value through Leadership." Since its inception by the Graduate Business Foundation, the conference has been hosted by 18 of North America's top graduate business programs, as well as those in Europe. Conference workshops have facilitated the exchange of leadership initiatives and helped create new student programs nationwide.
Cohen has served as chairman of the board and CEO of Finish Line since since 1982. Finish Line, a specialty retailer of men's, women's and children's brand-name athletic and lifestyle footwear, activewear and accessories, currently operates over 551 stores in 46 states and employs over 11,000 people. The company's sales for the latest fiscal year totaled more than $757 million.
An attorney, Cohen has an undergraduate degree in business and a law degree from IU. He is a member of the Board of Visitors for the IU School of Law-Indianapolis, the Dean's Advisory Council of the Kelley School and the Board of Advisors for the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
After a 20-year executive climb at Tiffany & Co., Coach Leatherware and Chanel, Siegel, an IU alumna, became president and CEO of Judith Leiber at age 46. She balances her duties as a mother with those of a corporate executive in a high-fashion industry.
Siegel has been vice president of merchandising at Tiffany and led the company's Swiss Watch Center operation. She also has been vice president-international at Coach Leatherware, president of Cartier subsidiary Baume & Mercier and vice president of Chanel's Fine Jewelry & Watches division. Since 2003, she has led Judith Leiber, a maker of designer handbags.
Conference sponsors include Eli Lilly, Target, General Mills, Ford Motor, Guidant and Finish Line.
Note: Registration for the conference has been closed. Reporters who wish to attend should contact George Vlahakis, IU Media Relations, at 812-855-0846 or gvlahaki@indiana.edu.
