Impact Speaker Series

The IMPACT Speaker Series was created in order to build bridges between our students and global business leaders. The speakers help to provide insight into the types of challenges and opportunities that are taking place in their industry. Top executives can easily share their perspectives and journeys which help guide Whitman students in their journeys, enhancing our ability to bridge the classroom experiences with real-world experience.

Registration is required for students to attend the Impact Speaker Series in person.

All speakers are recorded and uploaded onto YouTube.

2025 - 26 WHITMAN IMPACT SPEAKER SERIES YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

2024 - 25 WHITMAN IMPACT SPEAKER SERIES YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Upcoming Speaker

Ronald P. O’Hanley ’80
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
State Street

Thursday, February 26, 2026
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Lender Auditorium

Ron is chairman and chief executive officer of State Street.

Ron was previously president and chief operating officer of State Street, and before that, president and chief executive officer of State Street Investment Management. He joined State Street in 2015.

Prior to State Street, Ron was president of Asset Management & Corporate Services for Fidelity Investments, responsible for Fidelity’s asset management organizations, corporate functions, and enterprise technology. He served at Fidelity
from 2010 to 2014.

Before joining Fidelity, Ron served as president and chief executive officer of BNY Mellon Asset Management in Boston. During this time, he also served as vice chairman of Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. Additionally, Ron oversaw all of Bank of New York Mellon's activities in Asia. Prior to the 2007 merger of Bank of New York and Mellon, he was vice chairman of Mellon Financial Corporation and president and chief executive officer of Mellon Asset Management. He served at Mellon and Bank of New York Mellon from 1997 to 2010.

Prior to Mellon, Ron was with McKinsey & Company from 1986 to 1997 and was elected a partner in 1992. He founded McKinsey’s Investment Management practice and was co-founder of the firm's North American Personal Financial Services practice. During his tenure with McKinsey, Ron served in the firm’s Boston, New York, and Stockholm offices.

Ron serves on the boards of Unum Corp. (where he chairs the Governance Committee), ABL Space Systems, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and Beth Israel Lahey Health (Vice Chair). He also serves on several industry and not-for-profit boards, including the Institute of International Finance, the U.S.-Kuwait Business Council, the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, Syracuse University, the Naval War College Foundation, IYRS School of Technology and Trades, the Ireland Funds, FIFA Boston 26, and WBUR.

Ron received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Syracuse University (Maxwell School) in 1980 and his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1986.