The UCLA Anderson School of Management awarded Robert Iger, the chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, the sixth annual John Wooden Global Leadership Award in a dinner ceremony Thursday at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Anderson administration officials give the award to business leaders who honor Wooden’s memory through their work as leaders in their community, said Alfred Osborne, senior associate dean of the Anderson School of Management.
“(Iger) worked quietly through difficult times with poise and pulled together disparate elements to build a team spirit,” Osborne said.
Iger also came to the Anderson School of Management on Thursday as part of the school’s Dean’s Distinguished Speaker series.
Osborne said Iger was able to work through difficult times and make Disney flourish, something that came directly from his hard work.
Osborne said he hoped the event would allow students to see a model of John Wooden’s leadership principles in the business world.
“People will surprise you if you believe in them, trust them, are
loyal to them. That’s how (Wooden) lived his life. We want our MBA
students to emulate some of the beliefs that (Wooden) shared,” he said.
The proceeds from the dinner will fund two $25,000 fellowships which
will go to two graduate students in the Anderson School of Management.