L Brands CEO Leslie Wexner is just as enthusiastic about philanthropic endeavors as entrepreneurial endeavors—perhaps more so.
At December’s CEO2CEO Summit event, L Brands’ CEO Les Wexner was honored with Chief Executive’s 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his visionary business leadership. Wexner is something of a legend in the retail world, having created and grown a litany of successful retail ventures, including internationally recognized brands like Victoria’s Secret, The Limited, Lane Bryant, Abercrombie & Fitch and Bath & Body Works. Over a career spanning more than 50 years, he forged an $11.4 billion company that today operates 2,942 specialty stores in the U.S., Canada and the UK.
But while Wexner’s successful business track record is well documented, his considerable philanthropic endeavors are less known, says Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer, who was among those who gathered in New York to participate in the award ceremony. “His business accomplishments—among other things, his creation of a store that has resulted in multiple reinventions and ancillary spinoff enterprises—alone make him one of the greatest success stories of modern times,” notes Fischer. “What might be less obvious is that if there were an equivalent award for community leadership and philanthropy, or for development, master planning and architecture, he would also be the right choice. His greatest legacy beyond his family—in my opinion, actually greater than his business achievements—is the value structure that he’s brought, taught and instilled in our community.”
Wexner serves as chairman of the Columbus Partnership, a membership organization he founded in 2002 to foster local economic development and support civic projects. What began as eight CEOs meeting informally has grown to include 52 members who meet regularly to discuss community issues, economic development strategy and civic matters. “We have a motto: ‘We leave our selfish interests at the door and we bring our community interests to the table,’” explains Fischer. “Our member CEOs give back, invest, roll up their sleeves and do good in our community and that all stems from what Les started.”
Read more about Les Wexner:
The Man Who Changed How America Shops
On Character: A Look at Those With and Those Without
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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.
