2023 Commencement Speaker Randall L. Stephenson

President Joe Harroz is joined by Randall Stephenson via Zoom. Stephenson is the former CEO of AT&T, retiring in 2021. Stephenson, who was born in Moore, Oklahoma, earned his master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1986 and went to work for Southwestern Bell until working his way up. He earned a status as a global leader in technology and innovation.

(0:00 – 2:20) Introduction

(2:23 – 3:39) Randall Stephenson’s OU origin story

(3:40 – 6:48) How OU prepared Stephenson for professional life

(6:49 – 9:22) Stephenson’s advice for OU graduates

(9:23 – 14:44) The importance of affordable higher education

(14:45 – 20:02) Adapting to the world in business

(20:03 – 24:30) Stephenson’s “business done right” as a part of the Business Roundtable

(24:31 – 28:11) The greatest threat to America’s status as a global superpower in business

(28:12 – 32:49) Oklahoma’s aim in preparing students for the professional world

(32:50 – 35:33) Sneak peak on Stephenson’s commencement speech

(35:34) Final thoughts