About Us
Rankings and Recognition
Marquette Business offers top-ranked programs and award-winning faculty, leading to successful students who perform at the highest levels.
Marquette Business Update
This monthly publication is a digest of college news, faculty research and media placements, student stories, alumni profiles, and a variety of other Marquette Business news.
College of Business Study Abroad Programs
Study at one of Marquette’s 36 study abroad programs spanning 20 different countries and all continents. We also offer Summer programs as well as graduate and undergraduate short-term faculty-led programs.
Business Leaders Forum
2012-2013 Business Leaders Forum
"For All Economic Seasons"
John Schlifske
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Northwestern Mutual
October 3, 2012
John E. Schlifske has been chairman and CEO of Northwestern Mutual since 2010. He previously served as president of the 155-year-old company and was interim president and CEO of its subsidiary, Russell Investment Co.
Schlifske serves on the boards of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Health, Kohl's Corp., Russell Investment Co. and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. A member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, he also is co-chair of Milwaukee Succeeds, a civic initiative focused on educational successes.
Schlifske and his wife, Kim, established a foundation through Children's Hospital's Center for Childhood Development, which assists families of children with language disorders.
He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Carleton College and a master's degree in finance and accounting from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
About the Business Leaders Forum
Established in 1999, the Business Leaders Forum is a speaker series sponsored by Marquette University’s College of Business Administration. The forum provides a setting for nationally recognized business leaders to engage in discussions and interact with students, faculty and local business leaders. The program enables Marquette to build practical knowledge into its rigorous business curriculum, exploring current trends, issues and practices in business.
Marquette University has attracted leaders at the top of their respective professions to speak at the Business Leaders Forum, including Herbert V. Kohler, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Kohler Co.; Richard M. Schulze, founder and chairman of Best Buy; and James J. Mulva, chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips.
The Kathleen and Frank Thometz Foundation has made the Business Leaders Forum speaker series possible through a special endowment.
Previous Speakers
- Jeff Joerres, chairman and chief executive officer, ManpowerGroup, 2011-12 (video)
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Angela F. Braly, President and CEO, WellPoint, Inc., 2009 (video)
- James J. Mulva, Chair and CEO, ConocoPhillips, 2008
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Richard M. Schulze, Founder and Chair, Best Buy, 2007
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Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., Chair, CEO and President, Kohler, Co., 2006
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Alexander M. (Sandy) Cutler, Chair and CEO, Eaton Corp., 2005
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Kathy Hudson, Chair, CNH Global NV, 2005
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Jeff Immelt, CEO, General Electric, 2004
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John Morgridge, Chair, Cisco Systems, 2003
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Don H. Davis, Jr., CEO, Rockwell Automation, 2002
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Dick Burke, Chair, Trek Bicycle Corp., 2001
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Wayne Sanders, CEO, Kimberly-Clark Corp., 2000