Join the WashU Alumni Association and Power of Arts & Sciences for a look at the current state of the modern corporation and a glimpse of what the future might hold for these organizations. The evening begins with a special premiere preview screening of Why Is Mona Lisa Smiling? The Re-imagination of the Corporation, a documentary film produced by Arts & Sciences alumnus Brad Siegel, AB ’79. The film is co-produced by Brand New World Studios and FORTUNE Media.
A seasoned entertainment executive with substantial experience in the TV industry, Siegel serves as executive producer of Brand New World Studios. He has developed and produced more than 200 feature and documentary films that have garnered over 100 Emmy, Golden Globe, Peabody, SAG, and NAACP Image Awards.
Why is Mona Lisa Smiling? The Re-imagination of the Corporation is meant to be a catalyst for intelligent discourse on the role of business in society. The film explores the shift away from shareholder primacy toward a purpose-driven, stakeholder-focused model of capitalism. Informed by the lessons and parallels between our time and the Renaissance — a global pandemic that prompted reciprocal free market relationships and expanded philosophical mindsets, fueled by the democratization of knowledge and power — the film makes the case for more inclusive capitalism and lays the foundation for the re-imagination of the corporation. The film stars CEOs and thought leaders who delve into what is required to evolve corporations and why it is essential to our collective future.
Arts & Sciences faculty members Steve Fazzari, PhD, the Bert A. and Jeanette L. Lynch Distinguished Professor of Economics and Professor of Sociology, and Bill Wallace, PhD, the Barbara Murphy Bryant Distinguished Professor of Art History, both appear in the film as commentators.
Event Schedule
6:30 p.m. Doors open, dessert reception
7 p.m. Welcome and film preview screening
8:35 p.m. Panel discussion
After the film screening, our panelists will discuss the film and explore topics related to the future of business. The panel includes:
- Moderator: Adia Harvey Wingfield, Mary Tileston Hemenway Professor of Arts & Sciences and Vice Dean of Faculty Development and Diversity
- Joanna Durr, director of Why Is Mona Lisa Smiling? and executive director of the business film division at Brand New World Studios
- Steven Fazzari, Bert A. and Jeanette L. Lynch Distinguished Professor of Economics and Professor of Sociology, Arts & Sciences
- Brad Siegel, AB ’79, executive producer of Why Is Mona Lisa Smiling? and Brand New World Studios
- William Wallace, Barbara Murphy Bryant Distinguished Professor of Art History, Arts & Sciences
A reception will precede the film preview screening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
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