“When Bob stepped into the CEO role at Walt Disney, the company faced significant challenges, including declining financial performance, a weakened global brand and employees who no longer believed in the company’s historic greatness,” said David Cote, CEO of Honeywell and the 2013 CEO of the Year, in presenting the CEO of the Year award at a gathering held at the New York Stock Exchange. “One of America’s greatest brands seemed to have lost its way. Shareholders, including the family of the founder, were up in arms. Bob moved swiftly to resolve conflicts, restore relationships and focus Disney back on the track of unparalleled creativity, innovative use of technology and global growth. And the results have been astounding.”
Cote was not exaggerating. Over the course of Iger’s tenure through the end of the 2013 fiscal year, Walt Disney’s total shareholder return was 202 percent. In addition, the company’s share price—$23.81 when Iger became CEO—recently hit $86.75.
In accepting the award, Iger paid homage to his former boss and mentor, Tom Murphy, former CEO of Capital Cities/ABC. “Tom taught me, as well as everyone else who worked for him, that there is never a substitute for integrity,” he said. “No matter what your business strategy was, no matter what initiative you were taking, no matter what decision you were making, it would never be and should never be at the sacrifice of integrity.”
He also acknowledged the challenges business face keeping up with the pace of change. “One of the real reasons why Disney is so successful today is that we look at change as an opportunity, not as a disruption. We believe that it’s really important for us to welcome change because we’ve learned that resisting it, trying to will it away is futile. And trying to protect the status quo—that’s never really a winning strategy.”
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
