Each year, Notre Dame brings women leaders to campus to share their inspiring journeys. Our speakers represent a broad range of professional fields and personal experiences. In our 125th anniversary year, we are thrilled to present a panel of alumnae leaders!

Charles J. Busta III Business Forum

Due to concerns and uncertainty around Coronavirus/COVID-19, the Busta Forum has been cancelled. We look forward to rescheduling at the appropriate time.

NDMU has been educating leaders for 125 years. What's the secret to developing personal leadership and how does that extend to the business acumen necessary for professional success? Join us to hear from a selection of outstanding recent alumnae.

Panelists include:

Tara Mathew Sahu '01, Coca-Cola North America
Michelle A. Streckfus '99, BUCC, NERC Management, Exelon
Sheri Booker '04, Poet, Writer, Educator
Queenstar Akrong '14, Founder & CEO, Adisa Advising and Associate Director, Partner Mobilization at the College Board

About the Forum

The Charles J. Busta III Business Forum is designed to showcase the thoughts and experiences of business leaders, especially women leaders, in order to encourage creativity and personal growth in women. The series was created in memory of Charles J. “CB” Busta, a Notre Dame trustee and marketing executive who died in 1999.

All individuals invited to speak are recognized in their chosen fields. We seek inspirational professionals of integrity who have made a real difference, overcome significant obstacles, or delivered dramatic success. We especially seek women professionals with these credentials in order to present strong role models who can set a standard of achievement for Notre Dame students.

Our invited speakers are chosen based on a strong set of credentials including:

  • Leadership 
  • Creativity
  • Innovation
  • Humor
  • Competitive spirit balancing business, personal and spiritual life
Past Speakers

2019: Stories of Growth. Connections. Access.

  • India Gary-Martin, CEO of Leadership for Life
  • Kate Bowers, Vice President of Public Relations Client Services at Weinberg Harris & Associates
  • Janese Murray, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Exelon Corporation (Ret.)
  • Linda Singh, Major General of the Maryland Army National Guard

2018: Mayor Catherine E. Pugh, Baltimore City

2017: Donna Orender, Founder and CEO of Orender Unlimited, and former WNBA President and PGA Tour Vice President

2016: Shira Shafir, Director of Social Innovation and Impact at TOMS

2015: Insights from Women Leaders in STEM: Inspiring the Next Generation

  • Judith Britz, Ph.D., Former Executive Director of BioMaryland Center
  • ​Alison Brown, Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer of University of Maryland Medical System
  • Gloria Flach, Corporate Vice President and President of Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
  • Kathryn Freeland, President/Chief Executive Officer of A-TEK, Inc.
  • Moderated by LaVida Cooper '03, Telecommunications and Technology Branch Head, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2014: The Arts Transforming Communities

  • Marin Alsop, Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
  • Doreen Bolger, Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art
  • Rebecca Hoffberger, Director of the American Visionary Art Museum
  • Julia Marciari-Alexander, Executive Director of the Walters Art Museum

View the Lecture

2013: Cindy Wolf, Executive Chef of Charleston restaurant and a partner in Foreman Wolf

2012: Patricia M.C. Brown, Esq., President of Johns Hopkins HealthCare LLC and Notre Dame trustee 

View the Lecture