Following a successful debut of the Murray Koppelman School of Business Executive-in-Residence Program, the college welcomes Aaron Olson, Executive Vice President of Aon United Solutions at Aon, as our Fall 2022 Executive in Residence. Olson is an executive with over 20 years of experience in the fields of leadership, strategy, and human capital. As EVP of Aon United Solutions, he is responsible for developing new client capabilities within and across Aon’s solution lines, linking solution lines and regional growth priorities to facilitate delivery to clients. “We are thrilled to continue this engaging program for our students and faculty that connects them with industry leaders,” Koppelman School of Business Dean Qing Hu said. “Aaron’s experience will be a huge asset in helping to shape our student’s knowledge of high-level business operations and decision making.” Olson helped to kick off the program with a conversation with Dean Hu on leadership and trends in the insurance industry on September 22. That will be followed by weekly office hours for students and faculty in a one-on-one format for mentoring and consultation. Olson will also provide guest lectures in Koppelman’s strategic management and leadership classes to share his experience in strategic decision-making. It is expected that Olson will host a high-level industry executive on current issues in corporate management at the end of the semester. Aon EVP Aaron Olson and Dean Qing Hu discuss the insurance industry in front of an audience of students and faculty on September 22. Olson is the latest Executive-In-Residence at the Murray Koppelman School of Business. “We deeply value the relationship with Brooklyn College, and I am excited to represent our firm in the Koppelman School of Business Executive-in-Residence Program,” Olson said. “Our collaboration started with an interest in Brooklyn College and its students, and the initiative has grown to include the Magner Career Center and the School of Business. My goal for this semester will be to work with the college’s administrators to add practical experiences and teachings to lectures with a focus on strategy and leadership. I look forward to engaging with students to challenge themselves and build career skills. I’m excited to highlight opportunities within the professional services and risk management space and show BC students that there is a place for them within our industry.” Prior to his current role, Olson was Chief Operating Officer of the Aon Operating Committee, where he was responsible for shaping and enabling the business agenda of the firm’s senior leadership team and ensuring the success of key strategic initiatives in partnership with senior executives. From 2012 to 2019, he served as Head of HR for Aon Hewitt and as Aon’s Chief Talent Officer. During that time his team led the implementation of Aon’s innovative apprenticeship program as well as the firm’s succession planning and leadership development processes. Beyond Aon, Olson has worked with a wide range of organizations on leadership and human capital strategy, including consulting engagements with top companies such as Apple, GE, VF Corporation, and Merck. He also lectured for more than a decade at leading universities, including Northwestern University and the University of Chicago and wrote the book Leading with Strategic Thinking, which was published in April 2015. Olson’s engagement with Koppelman builds on the relationship forged last year when a new program with Aon was created to educate students on risk management through guest lectures, internships, and an Aon/Spencer Educational Foundation Course Development Grant that will support students through their academic journey. Students from Brooklyn College’s Murray Koppelman School of Business gained access to the expertise of industry leaders at Aon while benefitting from a Spencer Educational Foundation Course Development Grant. The program enjoyed a successful debut early this year when alumnus Barry Salzberg, Former Global CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd., served as the first Executive-in-Residence.
