December 23, 2025 – Former Skidmore Pres. Dr. Philip A. Glotzbach and Go Giver Bob Burg

Dr. Philip A. Glotzbach – President Emeritus of Skidmore College and Author of Embrace Your Freedom: Winning Strategies to Succeed in College and in Life What students really need to do is to develop a set of cognitive skills, a cognitive swiss army knife. They need to be able to read critically, to think critically. They need to be able to write to communicate. They need to be flexible enough to change their mind about things. They need to be able to adapt to new situations. They need to be able to continue learning. Dr. Philip A. Glotzbach is a distinguished leader in American higher education, having served as the president of Skidmore College for 17 years. During his tenure, he spearheaded transformative initiatives that elevated Skidmore’s academic offerings, fostered greater diversity within the student body, strengthened the college’s financial health and aid resources, and enhanced its infrastructure and physical campus. Under his leadership, Skidmore achieved significant recognition as a nationally respected liberal arts institution. Before his time at Skidmore, Dr. Glotzbach held pivotal roles at the University of Redlands, where he served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and later as VP for Academic Affairs. His teaching career began in the Department of Philosophy at Denison University, where he was a valued faculty member for 15 years. He has been widely regarded for his insights into higher education and consulting on issues ranging from institutional governance to the value of a liberal arts education. Dr. Glotzbach’s academic credentials are rooted in his commitment to philosophy and education. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame and went on to Yale University, where he earned his Master’s, M.Phil., and Ph.D. in philosophy. Dr. Glotzbach is also an accomplished author. His recent book, Embrace Your Freedom: Winning Strategies to Succeed in College and in Life, reflects his dedication to the exploration of philosophy and education. The book delves into the importance of intellectual freedom, critical thinking, and the role of higher education in cultivating meaningful lives and engaged citizens. Through this work, he inspires readers to appreciate the enduring value of the liberal arts and the responsibilities that come with intellectual freedom. Bob Burg – Keynote Speaker, Co-Founder and Coauthor of The Go-Giver Influencer: A Little Story About a Most Persuasive Idea The single greatest people skill is a highly developed and authentic interest in the other person. Bob Burg shares how a subtle shift in focus is not only a more uplifting and fulfilling way of conducting business but the most financially profitable way, as well. For more than 30 years he has helped companies, sales leaders, and their teams to more effectively communicate their value, sell at higher prices with less resistance, and grow their businesses based on Endless Referrals. Bob has regularly addressed audiences ranging in size from 50 to 16,000 — sharing the platform with notables including today’s top thought leaders, broadcast personalities, Olympic athletes and political leaders including a former United States President. Although for years he was best known for his book Endless Referrals, it’s his business parable, The Go-Giver (coauthored with John David Mann) that captured the imagination of his readers. The Go-Giver, a Wall Street Journal, and BusinessWeek Bestseller, has sold well over a million copies. Since its release, it has consistently stayed in the Top 25 on Porchlight’s (formerly 800-CEO-READ) Business Book Bestsellers List. The book has been translated into 30 languages. It was rated #10 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the Most Motivational Books Ever Written, and was on HubSpot’s 20 Most Highly Rated Sales Books of All Time. Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, referrals, influence, persuasion, and people skills, with total book sales exceeding two million copies. Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender, of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve. He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic and serves as part of a South Florida rescue, foster, and adoption organization.