From humble beginnings at Illinois to high-stakes decision-making in Washington, Gies Business alumnus Sam Skinner (ACCY '60) shares candid stories about leadership, public service, mentorship, and the power of surrounding yourself with good people. With humor and wisdom, the former US Secretary of Transportation and White House Chief of Staff reflects on pivotal career moments, including an unforgettable wake-up call from the President himself.

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Check out our previous episodes:

April 1, 2025 – Gies alumnus, accounting pioneer Lester McKeever
February 11, 2024 – Professor Oscar Ybarra on workplace wellness, psychology in business
January 24, 2024 - Alumnus and longtime Gies supporter Tony Petullo
December 6, 2024 - Director, Health Care Research Initiative David Molitor
November 6, 2024 - Associate Dean for Equity Denise Lewin Loyd
August 21, 2024 – Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs Nehemiah Scott
April 18, 2024 – Dean Jeffrey R. Brown
August 16, 2023 – Gies Chief Disruption Officer Robert Brunner
July 5, 2023 – Gies alumnus and namesake Larry Gies
June 2, 2023 – Gies professor and travel expert Mark Wolters
Mar. 30, 2023 – Gies alumna and CTS Impact Founder Julie Scott
Dec.19, 2022 – Poets&Quants Founder John Byrne
Dec. 2, 2022 – Dean Emeritus Larry DeBrock on his long career, passion for teaching
Oct. 31, 2022 – Undergraduate admissions at Gies with Kelly Janssen
Sept. 14, 2022 – Executive Associate Dean Brooke Elliott on online education, gender barriers, and more
July 11, 2022 – iVenture Director Manu Edakara on entrepreneurship at Gies
May 26, 2022 – Gies professor Don Fullerton on environment and economy
May 4, 2022 – Secret Service agent turned iMBA student Lucy Chang Evans
March 28, 2022 – Accounting professor Nerissa Brown
Feb. 18, 2022 – Former Olympian Brock Kreitzburg
Feb. 8, 2022 – SAA Executive Director Jackie Price-Osafo
Nov. 19, 2021 – Marketing professor Tiffany White
Oct. 21, 2021 – Super Bowl champion Nick Allegretti
Sept. 8, 2021 – Dean Jeff Brown
Aug. 24, 2021 – Athletic Director Josh Whitman