At Neeley’s Tandy Executive Speaker Series, former 7-Eleven and Blockbuster CEO, Jim Keyes, urged students and professionals to embrace change, stay curious, and lead with confidence.
October 28, 2025
By Shelby Northrup
Content Creator, Neeley Communications
For the second Tandy Executive Speaker Series of the semester, the TCU Neeley School of Business welcomed former CEO of 7-11 and Blockbuster Jim Keyes to the stage. The fireside-style chat with Neeley School of Business John V. Roach Dean Craig Crossland drew an audience of North Texas professionals and Texas Christian University (TCU) students, all eager to hear Keyes’ perspective on leadership, hard work, and humility.
Gathering in the Brown-Lupton University Union (BLUU) ballroom for a breakfast conversation, Keyes and Crossland sipped on Slurpee’s while discussing lessons learned from decades of career experience that spanned corporate transformation, technological disruption, and cultural change.
Keyes began by reflecting on his humble upbringing in a small Massachusetts town, where he learned early on that success starts with the desire for knowledge.
“Somehow, somewhere, in books, in knowledge, was the secret – because they can take your money. They can take your house. But they can’t ever take what you know,” Keyes said, reflecting on advice he received from his father as he started his professional career.
Throughout the discussion, Keyes emphasized the importance of responding to challenges with reflection rather than fear. Drawing from his time with Blockbuster, which filed for bankruptcy during his time as CEO, he spoke candidly about how he turned setbacks into sources of growth.
Keyes spoke of two key skills needed to keep up with rapid changes. “One is embracing change, not running away from it. But to embrace change, you’ve got to have confidence,” he said.
He also explored what it truly means to be a leader; not just occupying a position of power but using it to empower others. His personal definition of “CEO,” he said now stands for “Change Equals Opportunity,” a phrase that captures his belief in learning and adaptability as well as the importance of using those to be a positive influence on others.
Alex Matura, a junior majoring in supply chain at Neeley, said that Keyes’ CEO message and education priorities connected to his own beliefs.
“What stood out to me was when he talked about ‘Change Equals Opportunity’, with knowledge, studying, and how you use those things to fulfill or gain confidence,” said Matura.
Keyes is frequently referred to as a “renaissance man,” he due to his depth of knowledge on so many levels, in language, aviation, professionalism, and more. Keyes explained that this diverse base of knowledge helps him lead effectively and put fear and intimidation at bay.
As the conversation drew to a close, Keyes encouraged students and professionals alike to continue expanding their understanding of the world, not only to advance their careers, but to live with confidence in their knowledge.
“The more you learn, the less you have to be afraid of. If we can get people to stop being so afraid of using their critical thinking, not being influenced by perception and triggering anger and hatred, their mental capabilities can get beyond this fear reaction, and the world can be such a better place.”
