Terry Sound Business

Steve Fisher is president and CEO of Novelis Inc., the global leader in aluminum flat-rolled products and the world’s largest recycler of aluminum. Novelis supplies premium aluminum sheet and light gauge products to the beverage can, automotive and specialties markets throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South America. The $10 billion company operates 24 facilities in 10 countries, employing approximately 12,000 people.

Since joining the company in 2006, Fisher has served in a number of executive positions, most recently as chief financial officer. During his tenure as CFO, Novelis invested approximately $2 billion to transform and grow its business. Prior to that, Fisher served as vice president of strategic planning and corporate development where he spearheaded major strategic, corporate and financial transactions across the company, most notably the discussions that led to the acquisition of Novelis by Hindalco in 2007.

Throughout his career, Fisher has held significant roles in finance and accounting, strategic planning and business development. Prior to joining Novelis, Fisher spent 13 years consulting with, or as part of, the management teams of various energy companies. He served as vice president and controller for TXU Energy, the non-regulated subsidiary of TXU Corp, at its headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

Fisher is a member of the Business Roundtable, an association of leading U.S. companies working to promote sound public policy. In addition, he is a member of the board of directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, where he chairs the Global Commerce Council. Fisher received a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from the University of Iowa and is a certified public accountant.

As CEO of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian’s primary responsibility is to champion the company’s employee-driven, customer-focused culture and inspire the spirit of innovation that is the foundation of Delta’s success.

An 18-year Delta veteran, Ed was a central part of the team that led the airline from bankruptcy to its current position as the industry’s leader. Named Delta’s CEO in May 2016, Ed is committed to putting Delta’s shared values of honesty, integrity, respect, perseverance and servant leadership at the core of every decision.

Under Ed’s leadership, Delta is focused on operating the nation’s most reliable and customer-centric airline; expanding its global footprint; and striving to become the airline of choice for the next generation of travelers.

When asked to sum up his job in five words, Ed’s response is: “Taking care of our people.” The answer reflects his leadership philosophy, which is based on the “virtuous circle” – if you take care of your people, they take care of your customers, whose business and loyalty allows you to reward your investors.

Ed grew up in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He lives in Atlanta, and is deeply involved in the community.

Ed joined Delta in 1998 as Vice President – Finance and Controller and was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2000. He left Delta in early 2004 and became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Acuity Brands.

He returned to Delta six months later to become Chief Financial Officer and lead Delta through its restructuring. In 2007 Ed was appointed to serve as Delta’s President, from where he oversaw Delta’s commercial and international functions and strengthened Delta’s financial foundation through innovation, debt reduction, revenue growth and bolstering the airline’s global network.

Prior to joining Delta, Ed held senior finance positions at Frito-Lay International and Pepsi-Cola International. Ed started his career with Price Waterhouse where he became an audit partner in its New York practice.

Frank Blake

Former Chairman & CEO, The Home Depot

Francis “Frank” Blake served as chairman and CEO of The Home Depot from 2007‑2014. Before that, he worked for the company as executive vice president of business development and corporate operations.

Blake previously served as deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy and worked in a variety of executive roles at General Electric.

His public-sector experience also includes time within the Environmental Protection Agency, deputy counsel to Vice President George H.W. Bush and law clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court.

For the first episode of the semester, Caroline Lee and Devin sit down with Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy as he shares the values that back the iconic Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. They explore what makes Chick-fil-A so successful and the legacy of the late S. Truett Cathy. Produced and hosted by Devin Summers.

Clarence Gooden retired as president of CSX in February after 47 years with the company. Prior to that role, he had served as CEO and chief commercial officer as well as vice chairman and consultant to the board. While at CSX, Gooden was responsible for generating customer revenue, forecasting business trends and developing a model for future revenue growth. During his tenure, he also held the roles of president and CEO of CSX Intermodal Inc. and served as senior vice president of sales and marketing at CSX and its subsidiary, CSX Transportation.

Richard F. "Rick" Smith has been chairman and CEO of Equifax since 2005. Prior to that role, he spent 22 years with General Electric, holding several president and CEO roles across a variety of business, including engineering thermoplastics, asset management, leasing, and insurance solutions.

Smith is an avid supporter of education, and has made it a key focus of the Equifax Foundation. He is a member of the executive board of Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business and a former chairman of the Lovett School's governance committee. In addition, Smith was chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and co-chairman of the Atlanta Super Bowl Bid Committee, which secured the city's bid to host the event in 2019.

Topic: An Unconventional Path to Leadership

Nancy Juneau serves as CEO and principal of Juneau Construction Company, which she founded with her husband, Les, in 1997. In those roles, she oversees and manages all business development, human resources and daily corporate functions. She is involved in all aspects of running Juneau Construction Company, including recruiting at college campuses, interviewing potential employees, overseeing weekly officer meetings, attending owners' meetings to reviewing monthly bonding reports.

In addition, Juneau is actively involved with the community. She serves on the board at Gwinnett Technical College and the Georgia Independent College Association. Widely known as an advocate for women in construction, Juneau regularly speaks at events such as the Norfolk Southern Corporation Women's Network Group and the ENR Groundbreaking Women in Construction Conference.

Topic: Locker room...board room...tv studio — only difference is the outfit.

Matt Stinchcomb (BBA '98) joined Seacrest Partners in 2009, following a career as a professional football player with the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition to his role as managing director of the brokerage firm's Atlanta office, he serves as a college football analyst and commentator for The SEC Network and ESPNU.

A Stone Mountain native, Stinchcomb majored in finance at the Terry College and later completed an executive education program at Harvard Business School. An active member of the community, he is chairman of the Countdown to Kickoff Charities, and serves on the boards of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Sports Network, the Georgia Transplant Foundation, and the Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation, among others. He is president and founder of the Stinchcomb Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting public children's charities. He lives in Duluth with his wife, two daughters and one son.

In the final episode of the semester, Caleb Stevens finishes his last Terry Student Podcast in an interview with Doug Benn, CFO of the Cheesecake Factory. He is joined by Caroline Lee and Devin Summers. They discuss his time at the University of Georgia and the challenges he faces as a leader in a constantly evolving, fast-paced environment.