When John Sculley left his position as CEO of Apple, the company’s revenue had gone from $800 million to $8 billion. When he enters the Quick Center for the Arts next Wednesday, Fairfield Marketing Club is banking on a legendary discussion.

“Globalization- The Future of American Brands” will be a chance for all interested Fairfield students – and alumni – to hear Sculley discuss his work with global business powerhouses for free. Fairfield, as a school that just two years ago finished a campus-wide focus on global citizenship, will get a personal look at America’s rise to international commercial leadership.

The esteemed businessman was the president of PepsiCo from 1977 to 1983. He led Pepsi in an advertising campaign to unseat Coca-Cola as the industry leader. The conflict became known as the Cola Wars with Pepsi making significant gains.

“It is important for all students to seek out opportunities as large as this one – learning is not limited to the classroom,” Nicholas O’Connell ’14, Fairfield Marketing Club’s head of publicity said in a statement. He and a dozen of the marketing club’s officers have been preparing for Sculley’s visit for about two weeks. The club officially has over 100 members, but this is the first time in recent memory that a student organization booked a large event at the Quick Center.

“There is so much more to be said about brands and global business that someone who has had experience in global business will be able to convey,” O’Connell said.

Sophomore Blanca Aca-Tecuanhuehue is an engineering student, but says she would find it interesting. “I’m currently involved in the business competition and [the advisers] recommended that we go,” she said.

“As an engineering major I’m going to be involved in a lot of industries. Even though I’m an engineering student, I still think I should know about marketing and business.”

MBA candidate David Hennessey found out Sculley was coming to Fairfield via the marketing class he is taking with professor Neal. “I thought it was a terrific opportunity to hear from an outstanding businessman and inspiring speaker.

“I hope that he talks a little bit about his time at Apple. As a business student, one of the best ways to learn about business is to hear about it from people who have succeeded; who have been there and done that.”

Since his work at Apple, ending in 1993, Sculley became more involved in other technology start-ups. Today, Sculley regularly appears on Bloomberg TV, CNBC and Fox News as a guest.

Tickets for the event are on sale now at the Barone Campus Center Information Desk and in the Dolan School Business.

Sculley will speak at the Quick Center on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. Admission for students, faculty and staff is free. Alumni can get one free ticket each on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission for all others is $30.

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