The Walton MBA

The MBA Leadership Summit at Walton College last month featured an inspiring fireside chat between Aaron Saint, Senior Managing Director at Accenture, and Mary Lacity, Distinguished Professor of Information Systems in the Walton College. Their conversation offered powerful insights on leadership, organizational change, and the intersection of people, process, and technology in driving innovation.   Here are three key takeaways from Aaron Saint’s reflections on leadership that resonated deeply:   1) Cultural Commitment Drives Change 
Aaron shared a pivotal “slap-the-table moment,” where senior leaders of a utility company committed to united decision-making: “No matter how much we agree or disagree in this room, when we leave, we all agree.” This culture of alignment was instrumental in driving organizational change among 3,000 employees.   2) Transparency and Direct Feedback are Essential 
Aaron highlighted his approach to leadership: “I strive to be super transparent all the time... Direct feedback is critical; without it, you’re not truly thinking about others.” This mindset fosters trust and clarity, empowering teams to align on shared goals.   3) Link Vision to Impact 
Connecting day-to-day work with a broader purpose is crucial. As Aaron noted: “I always try to create a language for the work... You’re not just coding; you’re reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to cleaner energy.” This perspective inspires teams to see the value of their contributions. Aaron’s fireside chat highlighted the critical role of cultural alignment, transparent communication, and purpose-driven vision in leading transformational organizational change.   #Leadership #Innovation #OrganizationalChange @uawaltoncollege

In her fireside chat at the Walton MBA Leadership Summit, Shelley Simpson, President & CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport, shared powerful insights with Walton MBA alumni and students, offering practical lessons on leadership, mentorship, and work-life integration. Here are three key takeaways: Lead by Example and Demonstrate the ‘How’ Shelley shared how she helped her team embrace a new vision by showing them the way. “Leadership means doing whatever is necessary so that people can see what the vision is... Sometimes we actually have to teach them the ‘how’.” Her hands-on approach, like cold-calling customers to motivate her team, demonstrated the importance of action in leadership. Building Trust and Mentorship Drives Leadership Growth Shelley highlighted the power of mentorship and trust in leadership, harkening back to her own growth within J.B. Hunt, saying, “Everybody has five minutes. So it was an easy way for me to capture five minutes, get their idea, and then either work on it, make sure that I connect it, but I would actually follow back up.” This approach fosters personal and professional growth, creating a supportive leadership culture. Integrate Your Personal and Professional Life Shelley’s advice on work-life integration was profound: “I try to integrate as much of who I am - my faith, and my family, and my work, and my community. That’s the core of who I am.” She stresses the importance of defining your life’s mission to stay aligned with your values, which helps guide decisions at both work and home. Shelley’s insights on leadership emphasize the power of leading by example, building trust through mentorship, and integrating personal values into professional life. By fostering meaningful connections and staying true to one’s core values, she shows how to drive growth both personally and professionally. #Transform #Advance #Lead #UARK

In his fireside chat at the Walton MBA Leadership Summit, Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart, shared powerful insights with Walton MBA alumni and students. He covered topics ranging from leadership and innovation to the importance of people in shaping company culture. Here are three key takeaways:   1.      Servant Leadership & People-Led Culture
Doug emphasized the importance of servant leadership, a philosophy that Walmart founder Sam Walton instilled in the company. “What Sam taught us all as it relates to engaging others and helping people feel part of something bigger than themselves is probably the biggest lesson that I learned.” By fostering a sense of ownership, leaders can add meaning to employees’ work, inspiring them to contribute to a larger purpose, and ultimately create lasting impact.   2.      Learning from Failure & Taking Risks
Doug reflected on his early career mistakes and failures and how these experiences shaped his leadership. Failure is an essential part of growth and innovation. “You can’t have growth without change. You can’t have change without risk.” His story highlights the importance of embracing failure as a learning opportunity and the value of celebrating team members who take informed, intelligent risks, even when those risks miss the mark.   3.      Adapting to Change & Leading Through Influence
The pandemic accelerated Walmart’s transformation, forcing rapid decision-making and adaptability. Doug spoke about how leading through influence helped empower his team to move quickly and make high-quality decisions. “Leading through influence gets you speed. It gets you ownership.” By trusting and empowering their teams, leaders can foster agility and ensure the organization remains resilient in times of uncertainty.   Doug’s reflections underscore the critical role of leadership, risk-taking, and consistency in building a thriving business. To lead effectively, one must inspire others, embrace failure, and stay adaptable—qualities that are essential in navigating today’s ever-evolving business landscape.   #Leadership #ServantLeadership #GrowthMindset #RiskTaking #Adaptability #CompanyCulture #Walmart #BusinessSuccess @uawaltoncollege

At the Walton MBA Leadership Summit, Bill Dillard III, Senior Vice President at Dillard’s Inc., joined Brent D. Williams, Dean of the University of Arkansas ­- Sam M. Walton College of Business, for a dynamic fireside chat where he shared powerful insights on leadership, retail evolution, and the core values that drive long-term success. Below are three key takeaways: 1. Integrity as the Foundation of Success Bill emphasized that integrity is the cornerstone of Dillard’s business philosophy, guiding the company through its 85 years of success. He stressed that integrity isn’t just about doing the right thing in front of others, but about consistency and wholeness in how a company operates. As he shared, “Integrity is probably the number one thing... It brings a wholeness to how you do things.” 2. Building Trust Through Personal Relationships and Technology While technology plays an important role in modern retail, Bill highlighted that true customer loyalty is built on trust-based relationships. Associates use technology to gain valuable customer insights, but the personal connection remains at the heart of the business. Bill explained, “At the end of the day, it’s still a trust-based relationship... providing a value-added service without spamming the customer.” 3. Virtues in Leadership Bill Dillard III shared an important lesson on the balance between “resume virtues” (skills for success) and “eulogy virtues” (personal values like integrity and loyalty). As he stated, “How you do what you do is as important to what you do and the success that you drive... those two need to be co-balanced.” This reflects the importance of aligning personal values with professional achievements for long-term success and fulfillment. Bill’s conversation with Brent illuminated the key principles that have driven Dillard’s continued success: integrity, personalized customer service, and the evolution of the merchandising function through technology. His insights on leadership and retail demonstrate that staying true to core values while adapting to change is the key to thriving in today’s business world. #Transform #Advance #Lead #UARK @uawaltoncollege

At the Walton MBA Leadership Summit, John Calipari, Head Coach of Arkansas Razorback men’s basketball, shared invaluable leadership insights with Walton MBA alumni and students. His lessons on servant leadership, accountability, and adaptability extend beyond sports and apply to business as well. Here are three key takeaways: Servant Leadership: Calipari believes that genuinely caring for others is the foundation of leadership. He shared how his investment in his players’ growth, both on and off the court, builds trust and success. “Be invested in somebody else and see what it does for you,” he emphasized. Accountability: Calipari takes full responsibility for both wins and losses, exemplifying humility and fostering a culture of trust. He recalled a 2008 national championship loss, taking accountability for his decisions rather than blaming his players: “If we lose, I’m going to make it about what I did and not what they did.” Adaptability: Calipari’s leadership is built on flexibility, adjusting strategies to suit his players’ strengths. He advocates for a “fail fast” approach and encourages his team to play to their strengths: “Eighty percent of the game, play to your strengths. Whatever you do best.” These timeless principles—serving others, owning mistakes, and adapting to change—are key to leading teams toward long-term success. #Leadership #ServantLeadership #Coaching #Adaptability #GrowthMindset #Razorbacks #SportsAndBusiness @uawaltoncollege

Happy Thanksgiving from Walton MBA! 🍂 We are so thankful for our incredible students and alumni who make our community stronger every day. Wishing you a holiday filled with gratitude and joy! #Transform #Advance #Lead #UARK