PLU School of Business Executive Leadership Series

We are pleased to announce the return of the Executive Leadership Lecture Series.  This series supports our students and programs at PLU by bringing executives to campus to share their expertise and insight.

We are excited to bring preeminent industry and organizational leaders, students and selected guests together on the PLU campus for these evenings.  The one hour sessions offer insight into current issues facing decision-makers.  These leaders will also share aspects of their own professional experiences and career development.  We are pleased to invite you to attend these evenings to engage in discussions of issues pertinent to our dynamic global business environment.

Bradd Busick, MS, MBA

Bradd BusickMarch 3, 2026 │ 6:00 – 7:00pm │ Rieke Science Center room 103A 

Topic:  “The Healthcare Upside Down: Why the System Sucks and How AI Flips It Back”

Bradd Busick transforms cultures, business outcomes, and market strategies through the enablement of technology.

He is a 2x State and National CIO of the Year Award winner in Healthcare, a Business Transformation 150 Award winner, a Puget Sound Business Journal Healthcare Champion, a TED Speaker, and an industry-recognized thought leader supporting the design and delivery of cost-effective, high-performance, business-driven technology solutions.

Bradd brings more than 25 years of quantifiable results in diverse verticals, including finance, utilities, aerospace, retail, philanthropic non-profit, and healthcare. He is nationally recognized for innovative approaches and hyper-focused investment in culture, having led strategy planning and architecture at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and served as CIO at MultiCare, and is a Principal for Data and AI at Frazier Healthcare Partners, a PE firm focused on digital innovation.

Bradd received his undergraduate and MBA from Pacific Lutheran University, and a second Master’s degree from the School of Engineering at Brown University. He is an adjunct faculty member at PLU in the Morken School of Business, an adjunct lecturer and Teaching Assistant at Brown University, and an advisory Board member for Workday, Intuitive, Service Now, Baxter, and the University of Washington.

Erik Ogard, CFA

April 8, 2026 │ 6:00 – 7:00pm │ Rieke Science Center room 103A 

Topic:  “Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Success Comes from Solving People’s Problems”

Erik Ogard, CFA, is the driving force behind BufferLABS, drawing on his extensive experience as
a portfolio manager and investment professional.

Starting in late 2021, which managing a portfolio of buffered ETFs, he saw how tricky it could be
for advisors to navigate their complexity. With a career spent in senior investment roles, Erik
though advisors could benefit from a clearer way to evaluate these products.

Holding an MBA from Willamette University, he’s passional about supporting advisors – not by
overwhelming them with expertise, but by providing tools like BufferLABS to simplify their work
and strengthen client relationships. For Erik, it’s about making the complex feel approachable,
so advisors can focus on serving their clients.