This spring, more than three dozen corporate leaders from the St. Louis area came to Boston for three days to visit with leaders of local institutions, including Harvard Business School and HSCI.
As members of the St. Louis chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), an organization comprising individuals who became chief executive of a medium- to large-sized business before age 44, they came to be exposed to resources and ideas that could influence their values or help them be agents for constructive change in their communities. An international organization with more than 17,000 members, YPO’s mission is to foster better leaders through education and idea exchange.
During their half-day HSCI visit, the executives were given a broad overview of stem cell research by HSCI staff and faculty. Speakers were HSCI Executive Director Brock Reeve, Amy Wagers, PhD, Ramesh Shivdasani, MD, PhD, Richard Lee, MD, and Kevin Eggan, PhD. Presentations were followed by tours of HSCI’s Therapeutic Screening Center, led by Kelvin Lam, PhD, and the iPS Core Facility, led by Chad Cowan, PhD, followed by lunch in Harvard Square.
“We were impressed with the HSCI faculty’s ability to concisely convey complex topics and issues in a clear and thought-provoking manner,” says Kevin Short, YPO St. Louis chapter chair. “The opportunity to experience a stem cell lab and visit one-on-one with HSCI researchers put this event over the top for us.”