PARTICIPANT-ORGANIZED Talks

Participant-Organized Talks

The Stanford Executive Program (SEP) brings together unique and accomplished executives in a collaborative learning environment. You will have the opportunity to connect with each other inside and outside the classroom. We also have a Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) student tradition of student-organized talks. These talks take different shapes. 

Participant Talks

In each participant talk slot, 3-4 speakers will be given about 10-15 minutes within the one-hour slot to make their own presentation. It will function much like a TED talk in format. Based on time, a few minutes can sometimes be allotted to questions.

Some topics could include:

• A personal talk: an opportunity to share your unique story and perspective related to where you are from, what matters most to you, or what drives you.

• An industry or topic focused talk: an opportunity to speak about your industry or an industry or topic you are passionate about.

Please fill out this form to express interest in presenting a participant talk. 

Guest speakers 

Guest speakers are different from our participant talks. We recommend finding guest speakers about topics or industries that are not covered in the program and would augment the faculty classroom sessions. Be sure to speak with a number of your cohort members in order to understand how many people are interested in the topic or speaker.

• Guest Speakers can pick a few different styles. 

• Interview style: you or someone in the cohort interviews this speaker for a candid, intimate-style talk. 

• A prepared presentation: (20-45 minutes speaking, ~15 minutes Q&A) 

• A prepared panel discussion: 2 or more guest speakers on a specific industry, topic, or theme, moderated by you or a classmate.

Please fill out this form to express interest in bringing a guest speaker to speak to the SEP 2025 cohort.

Considerations and Standard Practices

• SEP Team staff are not able to provide assistance with recording a talk. 

• No outside guests (outside of the SEP cohort) are allowed to attend the talks, these talks are meant as a benefit the SEP cohort only. 

• If you invite an outside guest speaker, you will be responsible for stewarding the information, relationship, and experience for the speaker, including introducing them, inviting them to meals, being their main liaison with the SEP team, etc. 

• The time allotted for each session is 1 hour typically, in each session multiple speakers will be given about 10-15 minutes within the time period to make their own presentation. It will function much like a TED talk in format. Based on time, a few minutes can sometimes be allotted to questions. 

• Most Big Name Speakers/Guest Talk speakers will speak for 20-45 minutes, then leave the last ~15 minutes for audience Q&A. We can provide a larger venue if enough SEP participants sign up for the guest talk. 

• Remember that the cohort is comprised of a very broad set of senior leaders, this means the topic of the talk should take into account the audience, and be accessible enough to non-experts in that field. 

Final scheduling will be confirmed once the program begins, by the SEP Team staff. If you have additional questions, please email us at sep@gsb.stanford.edu.