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Bringing the Boardroom to the Classroom

Each semester, �̾�����Ƶ's Development and Alumni Relations Office partners with the Lubin School of Business to put together a series of roundtable discussions between alumni and current students. This event series supports Lubin's mission of bringing the boardroom into the classroom and providing our students with active learning opportunities. Led by Dean Singleton and a group of Lubin's high academic standing students, the series is held via Zoom. Alumni share their experiences since graduating from Pace, and give industry advice for students. These roundtable discussions provide an opportunity for students to learn and ask questions, as well as provide alumni with an impactful and engaging experience.

What students are saying about the Dean's Roundtable

“One of the best event formats for Lubin students.”

“So interesting and cool to meet the Co-CEO of Century 21!”

“The Roundtable was very insightful and the perfect opportunity for students to meet with highly successful alumni.”

“The roundtable initiative was wonderful.”

“This is so amazing and insightful.”

“Keep it going!”

Franklyn Smith '89

Retired Assurance Partner - PwC
Thursday, October 10, 2024
3:25 p.m.–4:25 p.m.
Zoom

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Franklyn Smith was an Audit Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) in the New York Office. He spent his entire distinguished career of 32 years with the company. He served clients in the financial services industry and was Lead Audit Partner for some of PwC's largest, most complex and respected financial services clients. He retired from PwC on June 30, 2021. After retirement from the company, Mr. Smith embarked on his next career as a trusted Board Director. He currently serves as an Independent Director and member of the Audit Committee at Zurich America Insurance Company, Schaumburg, IL. He is highly qualified to serve as an Audit Committee Financial Expert. He also currently serves as an Independent Director and member of the Contracts Review Committee and Closed End Funds Committee at Neuberger Berman Mutual Funds, New York, NY. Finally, Mr. Smith is a Board member and treasurer of a tax-exempt, non-profit organization at Share My Fortune, Inc. that is dedicated to helping at-risk children get a second chance in life.

He has extensive experience, deep financial expertise, and is proficient in all aspects of accounting, reporting, internal control matters, and other regulatory requirements applicable to mutual funds. He has significant experience with all types of mutual funds, including open and closed-end funds, ETFs, master feeder funds and multiclass funds. His extensive experience also includes serving nonpublic funds, such as investment partnerships, hedge funds, private equity funds, bank commingled funds and offshore funds. He has significant experience with various investment products, including derivatives, emerging market securities, international securities, money market securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. He has assisted mutual fund clients with due diligence reviews of fund mergers, structuring new funds and dealing with operational, regulatory and reporting matters.

Mr. Smith was Market Team leader and Primary Reporting Partner in PwC's New York office Asset & Wealth Management Practice with day-to-day responsibilities for driving revenue and business development, audit quality and human capital efforts. He was also responsible for partner assignments, partner plans, partner rotation and performance. He has strong interpersonal skills and collaborative approach. He has a strong career of coaching, mentoring, developing and sponsoring people. Mr. Smith is an active supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and was Partner Sponsor for the Black Inclusion Network in PwC's New York office.

Mr. Smith earned a combined Bachelor of Business Administration (summa cum laude) and a Master of Business Administration in Public Accounting from �̾�����Ƶ, New York, NY in June 1989. He is a Certified Public Accountant in New York State and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant.  

George Papadopoulos '93

Managing Partner, CFO/COO/CCO - Landscape Capital Management LLC
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
3:25 p.m.–4:25 p.m.
Zoom

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George Papadopoulos has over thirty years of financial expertise. He began his career, after graduating from �̾�����Ƶ in 1993, as a CPA with Arthur Andersen. In the years that followed opportunities presented themselves that would lead George into roles from Controller to Chief Financial Officer, some of which were with publicly held companies. He worked in various industries including services, manufacturing, consumer products and for nearly the last ten years financial management. He joined Landscape Capital Management in January of 2015. Landscape is an SEC registered investment advisor with over $1.5 billion in regulatory assets under management. George's role as a Managing Partner and Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Compliance Officer involves many aspects of the business ranging from client interaction, capital raising, audits, tax preparation, compliance with SEC rules and regulations, and management of day to day functions.

Grace Vandecruze '85

Managing Director - Grace Global Capital, LLC
Friday, November 22, 2024
12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m
Zoom

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Grace Vandecruze is twenty years into a successful career as an investment banker, primarily focused on the financial services industry, after having spent seven years as a financial auditor in public accounting. She is an insurance investment banking expert, advising companies and insurance regulators on mergers & acquisitions, financings, capital strategies, valuation, restructuring, private placements, due diligence and other transactions. She has developed an in-depth knowledge of all forms of corporate insurance and financial services transactions and financings in the debt and equity markets. Ms. Vandecruze has worked on numerous restructurings, debt and equity offerings (including IPOs), M&A transactions, demutualizations and regulatory projects in the global life and P&C reinsurance and insurance markets and more broadly in financial services. Throughout her career, Grace has delivered advisory expertise on over $20 billion of insurance transactions. She has a passion for financial literacy and empowerment and has authored the internationally best-selling book, Homeless to Millionaire, 6 Keys to Uplift Your Financial Abundance.

Joseph Brown '08

Chief Operating Officer - Google Inc.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
Zoom

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Joseph Brown's personal creed (lead with courage; decide with integrity; live with passion) guides his decisions and actions. In general though, Joseph likes solving problems, building relationships, blitzscaling business models, modeling leadership, and learning daily. Also, Joseph really likes when Arsenal FC wins.

At Google, Joseph has driven consistent impact across Google Cloud GTM Commercial Strategy priorities for business, customer, and people for Strategic Industries, Financial Services, and Web3/Digital Assets.

Before Google, Joseph gained 12 years of experience across Management Consulting (McKinsey), Tech (LinkedIn), and Financial Services (Morgan Stanley). Across multiple analytical, strategic, and customer-facing roles, Joseph has developed his industry/functional expertise and leadership/management capabilities.

Born and raised in New York, Joseph now lives in Atlanta, where he is active with local professional, investor, and cycling communities. He is a member of the National Black MBA Association, Black Angel Group, Bonafide Riders Cycling Club, and a Management Leadership For Tomorrow (MLT) alumnus (MBA Prep, Professional Development, and Career Advancement programs).

Joseph enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends, as well as entrepreneurship, economics, history, soccer, cycling, nutrition, and fitness.