This year’s CEO Summit: Networking the Nations treated students and guests, including over 300 influential business leaders, to three days of panels and presentations Oct. 10-12, featuring over 60 prominent national figures in business, entertainment, international trade, technology, politics, sports, and many other fields.
Keynote speakers and special guests at the evening dinner sessions included former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. Sens. Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, producers of the hit TV series “The Chosen,” journalist Lara Logan (CBS’ “60 Minutes”), and the CEOs of one of the nation’s largest home improvement retail stores and one of the largest soft drink bottling companies.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky
A Dialogue with Africa panel centered on economic opportunities for African businesses, featuring Tanzanian and Zambian ambassadors, the governor of Nigeria, and a host of other African guests and U.S. business leaders. Panels were also held on faith in the film industry, featuring actors Kevin and Sam Sorbo; on forecasting Supreme Court decisions in 2024, presented by several Supreme Court clerks; and implementation of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, featuring Tom Gruber, the creator of the Siri virtual assistant technology, and multiple CEOs of technology companies. Several panels focused on governmental issues such as patriotism and national security with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, retired National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States Keith Kellogg, retired U.S. Army General Bob Dees, and Heritage Foundation Executive Vice President Derrick Morgan, among others.
For students, the summit was an invaluable experience for learning and networking. Students were invited to a Future CEO Dinner on Oct. 10, where they shared tables with business representatives and heard from Pompeo. During the entire summit, students had multiple opportunities to engage with Liberty’s broad network of influential leaders and innovators across many different industries who provided a Christian perspective on leadership. Students often obtain jobs and internships from direct networking opportunities during the summit.
Actors and producers Sam and Kevin Sorbo
At the Oct. 11 dinner, Liberty President Dondi Costin thanked the business leaders for investing in the lives of Liberty students.
“I love the fact that there are nametags, some of which say CEO and others of which say future CEO,” he said. “Liberty University Trains Champions for Christ. We do it in all kinds of ways, but our job and the mission that God has given us is to take students and over the course of four years pour into them so that they understand completely that their job for the rest of their life is to go into their sphere of influence wherever God leads them, and in that sphere of influence to be Jesus Christ in that place.”
“This was the best CEO Summit yet because the students played a major role, and all of the deans and the provost expanded the scope and reach of the summit as seen by the great roster of guests,” said Dr. Dave Brat, Liberty’s vice provost for engagement and public relations. “Guests and students were able to hear a profound vision of what business can look like if God truly leads the CEO and the business, making all the difference for the soul and the bottom line.”
President Dondi Costin (left) spoke with attendees during the CEO Summit.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke during one of the sessions.
Tom Gruber (top, on screen), creator of Siri, participated in the panel remotely.
Sen. Marco Rubio was a special guest speaker
