Buffett Headlines New ASU Speaker Series

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett headlines the “Iconic Voices” lecture series at the Cronkite School. Leading business figures, including Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, are participating in a new speaker series at Arizona State University. The “Iconic Voices” lecture series, to be held at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, features candid in-person and video interviews with business notables that include Buffett and Freeport-McMoran CEO Richard Adkerson as well as Andrew Fastow, the former Enron chief financial officer who was at the center a scandal with the energy company. Jeff Cunningham, professor of practice at ASU’s Cronkite School and the W. P. Carey School of Business, is the creator and host of the series, which is scheduled for select Thursdays during the spring semester. Cunningham, who is the former publisher of Forbes Magazine, said, “‘Iconic Voices’ will focus on candid discussions about the everyday lives of extraordinary people.” “We have chosen to bring these important leaders and disruptors to the Cronkite School to impart the lessons from disruption in non-media industries that could be applied to the digital transformation taking place in the media,” he said. “They have relevance to our student journalists’ understanding of how different leaders approach change, innovation and disruption.” “Iconic Voices” kicks off on Feb. 26 with an in-person interview with Fastow and concludes March 19 with an interview with Adkerson. The hourlong talks are open to the public and will take place in the Cronkite School’s First Amendment Forum on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus. The interviews will be featured on iconicvoices.org, currently under development, with articles written by Cunningham. Cunningham joined ASU in 2014 as a professor in the areas of disruptive innovation and the business of media. In addition to serving as publisher of Forbes Magazine, he also was publisher of American Heritage magazine, founder and editor-in-chief of Directorship Magazine, the leading publication for corporate board directors, and a senior executive with BusinessWeek. Cunningham has profiled or interviewed many key business and public policy leaders, including former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Schapiro and Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein. “Iconic Voices” Schedule Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 (CANCELED) 7-8 p.m. Andrew Fastow, former chief financial officer, Enron Corporation; convicted in 2006 of two counts of securities fraud “Failed, Jailed, and Recovered” Interview conducted by Jeff Cunningham, professor of practice, Cronkite School and W. P. Carey School of Business Thursday, March 5, 2015 7-8 p.m. Warren Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer, Berkshire Hathaway “When I Buy a Company, I’m a Journalist” Taped video interview conducted by Jeff Cunningham, professor of practice, Cronkite School and W. P. Carey School of Business Thursday, March 19, 2015 7-8 p.m. Richard Adkerson, vice chairman, president and chief executive officer, Freeport-McMoRan “The World of the Global CEO” Interview conducted by Jeff Cunningham, professor of practice, Cronkite School and W. P. Carey School of Business