About the series

Rachel Krug ’04 and Juanita McGonagle ’04 founded the Leadership Lunch and Learn webinar series in 2014. Since then, the Class of 2004 has been transitioning the series to the Class of 2011. Nate Houghton ’11 and Cecily Pulver ’11 will continue to host the series for Second Decade alumni, organizing 2-3 webinars per year, featuring Cornell alumni speakers, moderators, and participants.

The series focuses on building skills and knowledge around career success, work-life balance, and leadership. Previous topics included “Igniting Your Inner Leader,” “The Killer Resume,” and “Social Styles in Leadership Communication.” Webinars follow a format of prepared remarks from the speakers, followed by a Q+A session of pre-submitted and live questions.

Upcoming webinar

Stay tuned for information regarding the next webinar in the series. Want to speak and share your story and expertise? Looking to moderate? Connect with our planning team! Interest forms are listed below.

Start watching the latest webinars

Starting From Scratch: Building up boutique business before and after the pandemic (on-demand link coming soon)

Featuring Annabel Fowler Gatto ’12 and Olivia Moore Nicoletti ’12

Moderated by Nate Houghton ’11

We talk with entrepreneurs Olivia Moore Nicoletti ’12 and Annabel Fowler Gatto ’12 to discuss their progression as founders and how entrepreneurship has woven its way through their lives and careers. They speak to the spark that drove them to create their businesses, their experiences confronting external threats like the pandemic, and how their lives & families (including Cornellian partners in both cases!) have been part of their entrepreneurial journeys.

Publishing Your Way as a Change Maker

Featuring L Sam Zhang ’07

Moderated by Cecily Pulver ’11

In this session, we welcomed L Sam Zhang ’07, author and illustrator of The First Chinese Festivals series of picture books. The session was moderated by Cecily Pulver ’11. Collectively, they spoke on the process of becoming a self-published author/illustrator, how Sam’s Cornell experience shaped this journey and more!

Disrupting Tradition & Forging Your Own Pathway

Featuring Jesse Baker ’09, Melissa Benhaim ’12, and Aaron Mumford ’09

Moderated by Shannon Chang ’12

In this webinar, our panel of speakers Jesse Baker ’09, Melissa Behnaim ’12, and Aaron Mumford ’09 joined by Shannon Chang ’12 in spoke about the twists and turns of their career, transitioning into a new aspect of the hospitality industry, and more!

Watch previous webinars from the series on Cornell University’s On Demand site.