August 23, 2018

‘Team huddle’ with Matt Painter and Dave Ricks to highlight third Lilly Day at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue men’s basketball coach Matt Painter’s conversation with Eli Lilly and Co. chairman and CEO Dave Ricks will highlight Lilly Day at Purdue on Wednesday (Aug. 29). 

The multifaceted event is designed to introduce Purdue students to Lilly and the career opportunities that exist within the pharmaceutical company. 

Painter and Ricks will huddle with Purdue students, faculty and staff to share their leadership experiences from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union North and South ballrooms. The discussion will include strategies for recruiting and leading diverse teams to achieve success. Doors open at 4 p.m., and the huddle and Q&A are free and open to the public. 

“Fellow Boilermaker Dave Ricks is an exceptional leader,” said Painter, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts in 1994. “It’s great of him to come home to West Lafayette and share his leadership learnings with students who are eager to take giant leaps in their lives and careers.” 

Ricks is a Purdue graduate, having earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1990. He joined Lilly as a business development associate in 1996 after completing his Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University. He held various management roles in U.S. marketing and sales, where he served successively as director of pharmaceutical marketing, national sales director and general manager. He was subsequently named president and general manager of Lilly China before becoming president of Lilly USA in 2009. He was president of Lilly’s Bio-Medicines business unit from 2012 until he succeeded John C. Lechleiter as Lilly’s chairman and CEO in 2017. 

“I’m thrilled to return to campus for the third Lilly Day at Purdue and to join Coach Matt Painter to share our experiences recruiting and leading diverse teams to succeed as one,” Ricks said. “While we lead very different organizations, there are many common lessons, strategies and principles that Boilermakers will find thought-provoking and beneficial.” 

Students will be able to learn about Lilly and its more than 130 years of hiring Purdue graduates in areas such as engineering, science, information technology, statistics, finance, marketing, management, sales and animal health, among others. 

Lilly employs nearly 1,700 Purdue graduates — more than from any other university. 

“Lilly is excited to be on campus for our third annual Lilly Day at Purdue,” said Kristen McCain, consultant with Eli Lilly and organizer of Lilly Day. “Having these two successful leaders come together and share with fellow Boilermakers will be the highlight of the day. Coach Painter and Dave Ricks are great examples of how well Purdue prepares students to be leaders of any organization.” 

Purdue students will be able to learn more about the university’s connection with Lilly at information tables set up across campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Information tables will be located near the Krannert School of Management, Memorial Mall, Purdue Mall and Lilly Hall. 

After the conversation with Painter and Ricks, students will be able to explore specific career opportunities with Lilly in breakout sessions beginning at 6 p.m. in Stewart Center, rooms 204, 214 and 218.   

Media contact: Brian Peloza, 765-496-9711, bpeloza@purdue.edu

Sources: Matt Painter, Purdue men’s basketball coach

Dave Ricks, Eli Lilly and Co. chairman and CEO

Kristen McCain, consultant with Eli Lilly

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