The HBS Club of New York held its 54^th Annual Leadership Dinner on April 24, honoring three alumni who embody the HBS mission to "educate leaders who make a difference in the world," and demonstrate the HBS commitment to excellence and lifelong learning in their careers and contributions to the community.

The dinner was the first large-scale gathering for the Club since the end of the pandemic and attracted 400 alumni and guests to the Glasshouse in Manhattan. Through corporate sponsorships and ticket sales, the dinner raised $1.3 million toward the club's extensive programming, pro bono consulting, and student scholarships as well as club staffing and operations.

The evening opened with a welcome from Club president Clare Peeters (MBA 2000) and included remarks by Leadership Dinner Chair Raymond J. McGuire (MBA 1983), chair of the club's Board of Directors, Deborah Farrington (MBA 1976), and HBS Dean Srikant Datar.

"There was a special energy this year because we just haven't been together for a while," says Bruce Marcus (MBA 1980), who co-chaired the dinner's organizing committee alongside Amy Vecchione (MBA 1984) and Lance Stuart (MBA 1978). "A lot of younger alumni were there, which is good because we want to get them involved in the club."

Working closely with McGuire, club leaders, and board members, Marcus says the committee put together "an intentionally positive group of honorees."

HBS Baker Foundation Professor, Emeritus William A. Sahlman presented the Entrepreneurship Award to Michael Martin (MBA 2015), founder and CEO of RapidSOS, an advanced emergency technology company that powers safety, security, health, and emergency response for 500 million devices globally.

Author and alum Andrew Tobias (MBA 1972) presented the John C. Whitehead Social Enterprise Award to conservation power couple Paul J. Zofnass (MBA 1973), founder of the Environmental Financial Consulting Group, and his wife, Renee E. Ring, COO of the same firm, for their innovative work on sustainability in civil engineering, their role in creating Harvard's Environmental Studies program, and their efforts to conserve natural spaces around New York.

HBS professor and former Dean Nitin Nohria presented the Business Statesman Award to John B. Hess (MBA 1977), CEO of the Hess Corporation, for his transformative leadership at the company. Hess served as the chairman of the recent Harvard Business School Campaign and currently serves on the Board of Dean's Advisors at HBS.

In addition to the awards ceremony, Vecchione says everyone enjoyed great food, with spectacular views of the New York skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows, and were entertained by mentalists who mingled with them during cocktails before dinner.

"We go all out to make it a fantastic event at every level," says Vecchione.

All funds raised from the dinner help the HBS Club of New York provide a platform for the 14,000 alumni in the greater New York area to contribute, learn, and make a continuing impact. The Club supports: New York area nonprofits through Community Partners, one of the largest pro bono consulting programs in the city; workforce development through the Skills Gap Initiative; entrepreneurship through HBS Alumni Angels of Greater New York, the largest angel group in NY state; the regional alumni New Venture Competition; and programs featuring world-class speakers and HBS professors.

The HBS Latino Alumni Association (HBSLAA) held its 19th Annual Banquet at the Harvard Club in New York City on April 14.

With 100 alumni and guests attending, the evening kicked off with the inaugural presentation of the HBSLAA Distinguished Alum in the Latino Community Award to Jane Veron (MBA 1991), CEO and co-founder of the Acceleration Project. The nonprofit consulting firm's mission is to empower under-resourced small business owners and accelerate their success by providing high-impact and customized strategic, financial, operational, and marketing support.

"The Acceleration Project caters to people of color and Latinos to support their small businesses," says Marimar Pérez-Riera (MBA 1994), copresident of the HBSLAA, who presented the award to Veron during a fireside chat. "It was incredible to have her there, and our conversation was powerful. The award was new this year and was a big hit."

HBSLAA board member Alonso Alanis-Cue (MBA 2009) then introduced the banquet's featured speaker, Marissa Solis, the senior vice president for global brand and consumer marketing at the NFL. "She's an amazing and inspirational Latino professional," says Pérez-Riera. "We had an absolutely wonderful fireside chat with her."

The HBSLAA's current officers and board of directors recognized the immediate past copresidents, Eduardo Russian (MBA 2018), Shirley Cardona (MBA 2012), and Lulu Curiel (MBA 2010) for their service to the club.

Board member Eric Calderon (MBA 2013) gave an update on Latino admissions at HBS and introduced recently admitted Latino students who were in attendance.

"They shared a bit about themselves and we all got to interview and joke with them, and welcome them," says Pérez-Riera. "The HBSLAA wants to promote Latinos, first to go to HBS, and then to get into the C-suite and on boards of directors, so promoting new admits is a key goal. I think we feel a general pride and community in being HBS Latino alumni, and a sense of duty for Latinos and for inclusion in general."

In addition to Pérez-Riera, the banquet organizers included HBSLAA copresident Eduardo Weinstein (MBA 2009), Millie Carter (MBA 2013), Alfonso Alanis-Cue, Julio Calzada (MBA 2019), and Carlos Castelán (MBA 2015).

Following a year of activities marking its 75th anniversary, the HBS Club of Dallas capped it off with a gala dinner at the Gleneagles Country Club in Plano featuring former CEO of GE Jeffrey Immelt (MBA 1982) as the keynote speaker.

Club president Nancy Schmitt (MBA 1991) says Immelt spoke about a range of topics, including China and his work with the Industrial Roundtable for the Obama Administration.

"He provided warm, reflective remarks sharing an honest and humble account of his GE career successes and failures, as well as predictions about the future. His recounting of trends among the next generation of leadership, as seen in his Stanford GSB students, was especially interesting," says Schmitt. "He was engaging as a speaker, answered questions, mingled with the crowd, and talked to folks individually, and he stayed the entire evening. We couldn't have asked for a better guest speaker."

With 185 alumni in attendance, the gala kicked off with the reading of letters of recognition from a few luminaries: President George W. Bush (MBA 1975), Dean Srikant Datar, and Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson, who proclaimed that April 29, 2023 be known as Harvard Business School Club of Dallas Day in recognition the club's 75 years of impactful service to the Dallas community.

The festivities also included a display of historical materials about the Club, provided by Baker Library, and recognition of the pro bono work done by its Community Partners program. Guests had the opportunity to put personal notes into a time capsule that won't be opened until the club's 100th anniversary.

In addition to Schmitt, the event's organizing committee included Brian Buffington (MBA 1985), Graham Gardner (MBA 1981), Rose Hasham (ALM 2010), Bob Kraut (AMP 157, 1999), Jack Langenberg (MBA 1999), Mary Lovell (MBA 1979), Gil Marmol (MBA 1978), Marla McDonald (MBA 1991), Myra Migicovsky, Van Sheets (MBA 1983), and David Springate (DBA 1972).

"At end of the night, the committee went onstage and we set off confetti cannons," says Schmitt. "It was so fun. The whole evening was beautiful. There was something for everybody."

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