Who Is Jack Koten?

John “Jack” Koten was a pioneering leader in corporate communications and a founding member of The Plank Center’s Board of Advisors. Throughout his career with AT&T, Illinois Bell and Ameritech, he championed ethical leadership, corporate social responsibility and the role of public relations in building trust. He helped establish the Arthur W. Page Society, the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication and supported education and the arts through board service and philanthropy.

The Koten Distinguished Lecture Series honors his legacy by inspiring future communicators to lead with integrity and purpose.

2025 Speaker

Cy Wakeman

President & Founder of Reality-Based Leadership

Cy Wakeman is a New York Times best-selling author, Hall of Fame Speaker and the 2023 World’s #1 Leadership Guru, celebrated for her transformative Reality-Based Leadership philosophy. With over 25 years of experience guiding top organizations including Google, NASA, Pfizer and Stanford Medicine, Cy helps leaders and teams achieve exceptional results by eliminating workplace drama and fostering accountability.

Her modern approach to leadership has earned her a global following of over 250,000 and recognition as one of the top 3% of speakers worldwide. Cy is a Certified Speaking Professional and a recipient of the prestigious Council of Peers Award of Excellence, honoring her impact and excellence on stage.

Cy is the author of four best-selling books, including Life’s Messy, Live Happy (2022), and hosts the popular Reality-Based Leadership podcast. Her work continues to inspire leaders to embrace reality, lead with clarity and create cultures of engagement and resilience.

Attend On-campus

Thurs., Sept. 25 | Math and Science Education Building, Rm. 1001 | 5:30 p.m. CDT

doors open at 5:15 p.m. CDT

Join us on campus at The University of Alabama for an inspiring evening with Cy Wakeman, as part of the Koten Distinguished Lecture Series.

In her talk, Fearless Leadership: Embracing Discomfort and Accountability to Achieve Greatness, Cy will challenge conventional thinking and offer fresh strategies for leading with clarity, courage and resilience. Her message is especially timely for students, professionals and anyone seeking to lead in today’s complex and fast-changing world.

Attend a Pop-Up Location Near You

As part of the Center’s 20th Anniversary celebration, we are holding Pop-Up watch parties in cities across the country. These gatherings will bring together emerging leaders to view and discuss the Koten Distinguished Lecture & Networking.

Each Pop-Up is designed to foster thoughtful conversation and meaningful connections around the themes of the lecture.

Registration is required to attend a Pop-Up event.

To participate, select your city below and visit its event page for location-specific details and registration information.