Jon Levin’s Post

It was a pleasure to join the Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of CAGoBiz Dee Dee Myers, and incoming UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons to talk about the important role of California’s universities in shaping and seizing the future of AI. These kinds of cross-sector collaborations are exactly what we need to serve the people of California and beyond. I’d also like to give special recognition to Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), which is also celebrating its fifth anniversary of bringing together leaders from across Stanford and around the world to explore and impact the future of AI.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished and the supportive community you’ve built during your time here. As you step into the next chapter of your lives, I hope you carry forward the values and lessons from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in your future organizations. We’re counting on you to bring your ability to build trust, lead responsibly, and approach challenges with curiosity and respect to the world beyond Stanford.

At Spring Reunion, I had the opportunity to interview my long-time collaborator and colleague, Prof. Susan Athey. Susan talked about the evolution of her career, her fascination with technology, and shaping organizations and markets to improve people’s lives. Thanks to everyone who participated in reunions for coming back to Stanford and renewing your connections, and to Susan for sharing her insights and exceptional breadth of knowledge.                                             Listen to my full conversation with Susan Athey here: https://lnkd.in/gmzradAt

We concluded another year of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business View From the Top series with Stanford University Women’s Basketball head coach Tara VanDerveer, who recently announced her retirement after an extraordinary 45-year coaching career. Tara is a legend in the world of college basketball. She was named national coach of the year five times and guided Stanford teams to three NCAA championships. For anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing her leadership in action, it is clear why she is one of the winningest coaches in any sport’s history. I want to thank our VFTT Team: Katie Harris, Shantam Jain, Shannon Beckham, and J. Zachary Doherty, along with Liz Walker. Your dedication and hard work brought us outstanding conversations with leaders all year.

Congratulations Peter DeMarzo! Your leadership and dedication to the GSB community have always been exemplary. I'm looking forward to seeing you guide the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in this transformational period. Best wishes in your new role.

It was wonderful to connect with colleagues for my last GSB Staff Town Hall. I’m grateful for the chance to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team —and for the hilarious and thoughtful “Presidential Go-Bag” full of must-have items like Diet Coke and a Stanford Athletics foam finger they gave me for my next role. Thank you to the incredible Stanford University Graduate School of Business staff for all the accomplishments and optimism these past eight years.

Congratulations to Phil Knight (MBA ‘62) on receiving Stanford University’s most prestigious alumni service award - the Degree of Uncommon Citizen. The Degree of Uncommon Citizen recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the university. Phil started his Stanford journey in 1960 as an MBA student, and famously wrote the business plan for Nike in what was at the time Stanford University Graduate School of Business’s single class on entrepreneurship. Phil helped to create the GSB’s Knight Management Center. He supported athletics, creative writing, and neuroscience. And Phil and John Hennessy teamed up to create the extraordinary Knight-Hennessy Scholars program. I’ve had the honor of being the Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Phil’s entrepreneurial spirit and optimism are captured perfectly in the quote below, which is inscribed in the GSB’s Town Square. Congratulations Phil on this well deserved recognition! Your generosity and impact continue to inspire all of us at Stanford.

This past week, our PCAST working group on AI released a report for the president: "Supercharging Research: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Meet Global Challenges"  In this report, we dive into AI's immense potential to revolutionize scientific discovery and workflows, and how the advances can lead to new materials, novel therapeutics, and a deeper understanding of our planet and the universe. A special thank you to our working group co-leaders Laura H. Greene & Terence Tao for their insight and drive in bringing this report to fruition. You can listen to our report presentation and conversation here:  https://lnkd.in/g5GJST8T And read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gw5ixYi5 

It was energizing to welcome the admitted MBA and MSx students who visited the Stanford University Graduate School of Business last weekend. Your time here will be nothing short of transformative. You’ll learn from our esteemed faculty, renowned experts in the global business community, and each other. Congratulations, and get ready to embark on an incredible journey of growth, discovery, and impact. We can’t wait to see all that you will achieve.