SUNY Canton School of Business and Liberal Arts to Host Former CIA HR Chief
Canton, NY (04/16/2025) — The SUNY Canton School of Business and Liberal Arts will host author and retired CIA chief human capital officer Mike Mears as part of the school's speaker series.
Mears will speak at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29 in the Richard W. Miller Campus Center's Kingston Theater. The event is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow in Miller Campus Center, Room 218-220.
Mears is the founder of the CIA Leadership Academy and travels the country teaching and lecturing about effective leadership for private and government sector organizations. His latest book is titled, "Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation."
Prior to his tenure at the CIA, Mears was a senior vice president at GE Investments where he managed private equity funds and served as a turnaround specialist. Prior to GE, he led several successful start-ups.
His military service included commanding a nuclear missile site and serving as a general's aide in Vietnam, where he was decorated for valor. He earned his undergraduate degree at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
"It's an honor to welcome someone with Mike's experience to join us for a conversation about leadership," said Dean of the School of Business and Liberal Arts Kenneth S. Rhee, Ph.D. "He has masterfully translated his wealth of knowledge and experience into his new book -- a true gem, I might add. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about what great leaders can do to make a meaningful difference for their people."
Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.
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Former CIA Chief Human Capital Officer and author Mike Mears will speak at SUNY Canton Tuesday, April 29.
SUNY Canton
Lorette Murray, murrayl@canton.edu, 315-386-7300Share this Story
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