Florida A&M University business students got some tips for success, recently, when executives from Walt Disney World paid a visit.Anthony Connelly, senior vice president and chief financial officer for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, US, and Cindy Luttrell, vice president of financial systems and business operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, visited Florida A&M University as part of FAMU’s “Forum Series,” a program that brings executives to campus to provide practical advice for the business leaders of tomorrow.
During his presentation to more than 130 business students, Connelly shared insights about the importance of mixing creative expertise with sound financial judgment in business decisions.
“Walt Disney came up with so many amazing creative ideas and his brother Roy worked closely with him on the business side to find ways to turn Walt’s dreams into reality,” said Connelly. “My challenge to this next generation of business leaders is to use the skills they acquire in school to work through the financial complexities that great ideas sometimes present in order to bring those ideas to life, the same way Walt and Roy worked together to do so many great things.”
Connelly also urged the students to be a partner and a collaborator in business, while following their passion with a positive outlook.
During their two-day visit to FAMU, Connelly and Luttrell fielded questions from a panel of graduate business students on a televised campus talk show. After the taping, the Disney executives were treated to a student presentation of a case study that won awards earlier this year at a Black Executive Supply Management Summit.