The Best Career Move You Should Be Making

By Frank Gleeson, NACS President & CEO

In early August I was back at Cornell University, sitting alongside convenience industry leaders participating in the NACS Executive Leadership Program. It wasn't my first time there. In fact, I attended the program more than 20 years ago as a retailer. 

That's me in the second row in the photo above. I was 35 years old and eager to develop my leadership skills. I was working at Statoil and my boss encouraged me to go to the week-long program. Quite honestly, that week changed me from a manager into a leader, and gave me the knowledge I needed to build a team at Statoil and develop the first American-style convenience store in Ireland.

This year, going back to Cornell was a bit like looking through a third set of eyes. The first time I was a participant focused on my own growth. In 2019, I returned as NACS chairman, sending members of my team through the program. This time, I was there as president and CEO of NACS, which gave me a new perspective and opportunity to step back and look at the bigger picture.

What struck me most wasn't changes to curriculum, team exercises and networking. It was how much the core values of the program have stood the test of time, and a lot of the same “aha” moments I experienced over 20 years ago are still there. 

The Cornell leadership program—our longest-running Executive Education program dating back to 2002— is foundational. If you're a CFO, COO, in a senior leadership or potential senior leadership position, Cornell delivers the fundamentals of leadership you need to move through your organization as an effective leader.  

After attending most of our Executive Education programs this year—there’s still two to go—I couldn't be happier with what participants are experiencing.

The NACS Financial Leadership Program at Wharton helps participants strengthen their financial and strategic decision-making skills. It's valuable not only for finance professionals but also for leaders who need to communicate effectively with boards, investors and executive teams.

The NACS Marketing Leadership Program at Kellogg focuses on marketing, innovation and storytelling. This year's participants were using AI and emerging technologies in ways that would have seemed unimaginable just a few years ago. The pace of change is incredible, and Kellogg helps leaders stay ahead of it.

The NACS Innovation Leadership Program at MIT, which I participated in last year, is phenomenal in terms of how we as leaders and change agents within our organizations can think outside the box and create a systematic process for problem-solving and creating value.

And the NACS Women’s Leadership Program at Yale creates an environment where women can learn from one another, build lasting connections and strengthen their leadership skills in a setting designed specifically around their experiences and challenges.

Together, these five programs form a leadership and career growth pathway for convenience industry professionals. If you attend three more programs, you will earn the NACS Master of Convenience designation that acknowledges the hard work and investment you’ve made in your personal leadership development.

As an industry, we're moving faster than ever. Leadership, technology, marketing and innovation are evolving. The need for continuous learning has never been greater.

And after seeing firsthand what participants are experiencing, I'm more convinced than ever that NACS Executive Education is one of the best investments a company can make in its future leaders.

To grow your career, strengthen your leadership skills and expand your professional network, there's never been a better time to start.

Frank Gleeson became NACS president and CEO on January 1, 2026. He served on the NACS Board of Directors for 11 years, including his term as 2018-19 NACS Chairman.