The Graduate Business Student Association (GBSA) will host their first annual keynote lecture by Daymond John, star of ABC’s “Shark Tank”, in the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m. on April 22.
John, the founder and CEO of the clothing line FUBU, will present his free lecture, “Lessons from an Entrepreneurial Icon”.
GBSA President Anthony Campenni, who’s earning an MBA in finance, said, “I wanted to create a campus-wide event that students from every program could be interested in, entertained and inspired by an acclaimed CEO and take business knowledge away with them after.”
Dean Preston Jones of the Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship suggested that GBSA conduct a survey for students to select the speaker. Over 100 graduate business students voted and John received the most votes.
Jamilla Abughali, who’s earning an MBA in global management and is GBSA’s student ambassador, said that he pushed to have John speak at NSU because, “He has so much to offer that students will enjoy. FUBU started as a small business but made its way to the top. He represents the opportunities that the U.S. offers.”
One of GBSA’s goals for the event is that participating students, no matter their year or field of student, will leave with practical business knowledge.
Campenni said that students should attend the event because John’s journey — from growing up in Queens, New York to becoming the founder of an iconic brand — will inspire students to achieve their dreams.
Albert Williams, assistant professor of finance and economics at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship and one of GBSA’s advisors, said, “I would like to see a full house because John has an inspiring life story to tell. [He] came from very humble beginnings [and] worked his way up to where he is now — an extremely successful entrepreneur. He will be an inspiration to all and will positively impact the lives of budding entrepreneurs.”
Carlos Hermida, MBA student and GBSA’s director of marketing and public relations, said, “Daymond John is a branding expert and entertainer. He will inspire [students] as an eccentric business leader with his own style.”
A question and answer session will follow his speech.
Although the event is free, tickets are required as seating is limited. They are available for pick up on a first-come, first-served basis at the front desk of the Carl DeSantis Building.
The first 50 students to arrive at the event will receive a free autographed copy of John’s 2010 book, “The Brand Within: The Power of Branding from Birth to the Boardroom”.
For more information on the event and GBSA, contact Campenni at campenni@nova.edu.
