Distinguished Guest Speakers – Spring 2023
Andrea Smith, Former Chief Administrative Officer, Bank of America
Linda Parker Hudson, Founder, Linda Parker Hudson Leader-in-Residence Program
Ms. Andrea Smith spent the day on campus as the Engineering Leadership Institute (ELI) Spring 2023 Guest Leader-in-Residence (LIR). Ms. Smith most recently served as Bank of America’s chief administrative officer, where she led a global portfolio of corporate organizational units involved with all facets of company business operations. Prior to that, she led the company’s Global Human Resources, managing a workforce of more than 285,000 employees. She resides in Charlotte, NC, and continues to serve as a director on a number of corporate boards. She was recently inducted into the NC business hall of Fame, was named one of the Most Powerful Women in Banking, and also named one of the most influential business leaders in NC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Southern Methodist University.
Ms. Smith has a former business and ongoing personal relationship with Ms. Linda Hudson, who founded the LIR program within the ELI. (See the “About Linda Parker Hudson” section of the ELI website.) The Spring 2023 event was planned around both Ms. Smith and Ms. Hudson serving as the focal points for faculty and student leadership-related events.
On the morning of April 4th, Ms. Smith and Ms. Hudson conducted two workshop-style, high-value sessions involving women in leadership issues. One session was held for Ph.D. candidates emerging as women engineering leaders, and a follow-up session was convened for women faculty leaders in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.
Afterward, students were treated to a luncheon seminar at the University’s athletic F Club venue. After lunch, Ms. Smith and Ms. Hudson facilitated discussions on the topic of “Today’s Leader – What it Takes to Succeed.”
“Those fortunate enough to participate in the Spring 2023 LIR program events received some valuable and applicable insights and advice about modern-day leadership from two highly-accomplished business and engineering leaders”, stated Bill McElroy, Associate Director of the ELI. “We’re very grateful that Linda Hudson provided the resources that allow us to conduct these ongoing, high-value LIR events.”