Widener Global Leaders Program Adds Barbara Shrut to its Industry Advisory Board
July 6, 2023
By Barton School of Business
About the Barton School of Business
Located in Kansas’ business hub and with significant ties to the business community,
the W. Frank Barton School of Business provides extensive applied learning opportunities.
With in-person and online options, Barton School undergraduate and graduate programs
are tailored to transform the lives of its students. It also holds a double AACSB
accreditation for business and accounting, which puts it in the top 1% of business
schools worldwide. The Barton School was established as the university’s College of
Business Administration and Industry in 1926 and has thousands of graduates around
the world.
The Widener Global Leaders Program (WGLP) has announced that Barbara Shrut, president
of SLB Advisors, will be joining its illustrious advisory board. The WGLP program
is led by the W. Frank Barton School of Business and directed by Dean Larisa Genin
in collaboration with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of
Fine Arts at Wichita State University. It is an interdisciplinary program designed
to create a transformational experience and foster an inclusive community for students
majoring in business, communications or fine arts aimed at developing the next generation
of global and transformational leaders.
“The Widener Global Leaders Program is an extremely unique and important offering
for students,” said Shrut. “I am delighted that we are focusing on developing leaders
with a global mindset and a diverse skillset. I can’t wait to help make a difference.”
Shrut is an independent board member, qualified financial expert, and business strategist.
She is recognized for leading board governance and strategic planning, with service
on executive, audit, finance, and compensation committees. As president of SLB Advisors,
Shrut provides guidance to clients on strategy, finance, revenue enhancements, and
brand management. She was Chair of the Board of Directors of Goodwill South Florida
from 2020-2023, with annual revenue of $160M and 2,600 employees. She spearheaded
the restructuring of the board by establishing a new committee framework to support
Goodwill’s strategy while providing stronger oversight. Shrut continues on the Goodwill
Board and on the executive, governance, cybersecurity/technology, compensation, and
audit committees. Shrut is Chair of the Audit Committee of the Greater Miami Jewish
Federation Board of Directors. She also chaired the Audit Committee and the Community
Investment Committee for United Way of Miami-Dade.
“Having Barbara’s strategic and financial acumen will be pivotal as we look to enhance
and expand the Widener Global Leaders Program,” said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the
Barton School of Business.
Most of Shrut’s finance career was with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. She held numerous
executive roles and served as the senior financial officer for Royal Caribbean International.
She led Royal Caribbean Cruises’ international business including strategy, finance,
technology, and marketing, driving international business growth from 30% to 50% of
total business.
Shrut holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Virginia. She
is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, International Women’s
Forum, and The Venture Mentoring Team.
“I continue to be impressed by the accomplishments and impact of this program as we
work to provide transformational and multidisciplinary experiences,” said Peri Widener,
CEO of GLoBIL Consulting Group, visionary and donor of the WGLP program as well as
member of the Barton School’s Dean’s Advisory Board. “Adding Barbara to this distinguished
board of industry executives and leaders is another milestone in the progress of this
idea.”
Shrut joins a board comprised of business leaders and industry executives from across
the country including Emily Berlin, Senior Advisor at energy33 and Ariete Hospitality
Group; Marie-Hélène Bernard, president and CEO at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra;
Sherry Chisenhall, president and editor of The Charlotte Observer; Mary L Kramer,
Director of Special Project and Detroit Homecoming at Crain Communications; Judith
Leonard, recently retired general counsel at the Smithsonian Institution; and retired
Major General Dr. Linda Singh, who serves as the CEO of Kaleidoscope Affect LLC. The
board is co-chaired by Peri Widener and Larisa Genin.
