Our Vision and History

Vision

Adult learning is our expertise, executive education our business.  Our vision is to be an institution that matters in the world.  We will do that by helping other institutions that matter, in places that matter. 

We want to inspire and lead constructive, pragmatic change.  We want to bring clients deep practical knowledge, diverse voices and critical perspectives that have real impact.  We want to change mindsets. 

We want to work with clients on the world’s toughest problems wherever they are made most painfully manifest.   We want to go “where the action is”—where people are, where resources are, where the biggest opportunities are being won and lost.

And we want to be a place that matters to our employees—where each person believes they are part of something bigger, something producing a lasting impact.            

History

Duke Corporate Education (Duke CE) was established in July 2000 as a carve-out of the custom executive education practice of the Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.   Blair Sheppard left his position as senior associate dean at Fuqua, and Judy Rosenblum her position as vice president and chief learning officer of The Coca-Cola Company, to found Duke CE.

Encouraged to employ a radically new business model integrating academic and corporate philosophies, Duke CE grew rapidly. Many clients being headquartered in Europe, the need for a greater presence there soon became clear.  Thus in June 2003 a joint venture with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) was established.  In recognition of the opportunities in India, a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad (IIMA) was created in June 2006.

In July 2007 Blair Sheppard returned to the Fuqua School to become its dean, and Kim Taylor-Thompson, then head of our New York office, took on the role of Duke CE's CEO. Former president Judy Rosenblum continues to serve Duke CE as advisor to the CEO and a member of our board of directors.