Introducing ENGR 39600/30301: The Springer Executive Forum

Purdue Engineering students interested in leadership, corporate careers, and professional development should consider the new course offering available this fall: ENGR 39600 / ENGR 30301, The Springer Executive Forum.

This is a two-credit hour course that meets every other Friday at 10:30 a.m. The course was developed with support from College of Engineering Dean Raman and is led by Professor Darren Henry. It is designed to connect students with Purdue Engineering alumni who are currently serving in VP-level or higher roles in industry.

Each class session includes:

• A breakfast meet-and-greet with the guest executive
• A presentation and discussion based on the executive’s career experiences and insights
• A lunch following the session for further informal interaction

In addition to the in-person component, students also complete a self-paced online module from Harvard Business School Online that introduces the fundamentals of financial statement analysis. The goal is to provide engineering students with basic financial literacy—an important skill set for those considering future leadership positions in industry.

Based on the most recent end-of-course survey:

• 93% of students reported an increase in their understanding of financial statements
• 96% found the executive presentations beneficial or extremely beneficial to their future careers
• 97% said they would recommend the course to a peer

Enrollment has included students from a range of majors (Mechanical, Computer, Aero & Astro, Electrical, and others) and class levels (Sophomores through Seniors). The course will be offered again in Fall 2025 under the course numbers ENGR 39600 or ENGR 30301.

Students interested in alumni networking, career development, or corporate leadership exposure may find this course relevant. For questions, students can contact Professor Darren Henry directly at henrydl@purdue.edu.