Amazon executive to headline MSU College of Business Seal Speaker Series
Contact: Emily Daniels
STARKVILLE, Miss.—A global human resources executive with more than two decades of leadership experience is the featured speaker for the 2026 Leo W. Seal Jr. Distinguished Speaker Series, hosted by Mississippi State University’s College of Business.
Amazon’s Vice President of People eXperience and Technology for Global Operations J. Ofori Agboka will join MSU College of Business Dean Scott Grawe for a fireside chat exploring leadership, organizational culture, innovation and the future of work. The event is scheduled for Sept. 22, 6-7 p.m., at The Mill at MSU Conference Center, with a reception immediately following. It is free and open to MSU students, faculty, staff and the public.
With 24 years of HR experience in the U.S. and internationally, Agboka brings extensive leadership knowledge spanning labor relations, corporate operations and employee management. At Amazon, he oversees global human resources for the company’s fulfillment, transportation, delivery, central operations, employee relations and workplace health and safety teams.
“We are excited to welcome J. Ofori Agboka to Mississippi State and provide our students and community with the opportunity to learn from a leader with extensive experience developing people and shaping workplace culture on a global scale,” said Grawe. “The Leo W. Seal Jr. Distinguished Speaker Series allows us to bring accomplished business leaders to campus and engage in meaningful conversations about the challenges and opportunities shaping the business world today.”
Before joining Amazon in 2020, Agboka spent more than two decades at General Motors, beginning his career with the company as an intern in 1996 and advancing to executive leadership positions. He most recently served as executive director of human resources for Global Corporate Staffs, with oversight in the areas of finance, information technology, legal, public policy and communications. His previous roles also included responsibility for international operations in the Middle East and North Africa.
Agboka earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana State University, where he was a member of the Tigers football team. He also completed the GM Transformational Leadership Program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. His professional honors include being named a 2016 Rising Star by Automotive News, 2018 Man of Excellence by the Michigan Chronicle and one of SAVOY Magazine’s Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America.
The Leo W. Seal Jr. Distinguished Speaker Series brings prominent business leaders and industry professionals to Mississippi State to share their experiences and perspectives with students, faculty and the broader community. Through conversations with accomplished executives and thought leaders, the series provides opportunities for attendees to gain insight into leadership, innovation and an evolving global business environment.
For more information about Mississippi State University’s College of Business, visit business.msstate.edu.
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