A compelling panel focused on the country’s social-political landscape and its impact on campus life featured (l to r): Russ Yarrow, Dialogue Project advisor; Mary Frances Luce, interim dean, Fuqua; Noah Pickus, associate provost, Duke University; Sanyin Siang, executive director, Coach K’s Leadership & Ethics Center; and Ronnie Chatterji, professor at Fuqua and chief economist, Open AI.
Seeding Bold, Action-Oriented Programming
Duke University recently gathered its Dialogue Project’s Business Council on campus for a two-day program that blended campus life with real-world industry perspectives. From tours and casual conversations to structured sessions with Duke faculty and leaders, the event crystallized the project’s mission: to foster constructive dialogue and engage business leaders in ways to help reduce polarization and improve civil discourse in our society.
Members of the Dialogue Project’s Business Council convened in Fuqua’s Nicholas Boardroom to share best practices among corporations helping to facilitate and enable more productive conversations around difficult societal issues.
Agenda and atmosphere
The on-campus agenda opened with “A Conversation with Students” in Fuqua’s Kirby Reading Room. Featured students included Senior undergrads Abigail Bergan and Sherman Crier, and 2nd year MBA students Benedikt Krob and Gabrielle Sims. Students were asked direct questions about campus life, the political climate, and the role of business in shaping the environment.
The Friday schedule started with a Faculty/Administration POV on “Campus Life Today.” Featured panelists included Noah Pickus, associate provost of Duke University; Mary Frances Luce, interim dean, Fuqua; Sanyin Siang, executive director of Coach K’s Leadership & Ethics Center; and Ronnie Chatterji, professor at Fuqua and chief economist at Open AI.
Following that, Sarah Bonk and Chip York, leaders of Business For America, shared their organization’s programming and encouraged Council members to consider participation in the upcoming celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, an effort being led by Business For America.
The balance of the meeting was spent brainstorming ideas for 2026 and how the Dialogue Project can accelerate and further scale its impact with the business community. Ideas ranged from expanded efforts with companies’ Learning & Development organizations to enhanced partnerships with critical industry associations such as the Business Roundtable, Conference Board, US Chamber of Commerce, SHRM and the Page Society.
On-site participants of the Dialogue Project Business Council included: Allison Kahn, JP Morgan Chase; Catherine Frymark, Mattel; Victoria Ifan, Citi; Jermaine Spight, American Airlines; Kah Yee Teh, Macy’s; Adam Bauer, HPE; Holly Skillin, KPMG; and Jess McKenize, Ralph Lauren.
Some of the Business Council members toured the Duke campus prior to the start of the two-day Council meeting.