Monica Langley
Strategist and Storyteller
Monica Langley (UT, ’80) spent 27 years as a journalist at The Wall Street Journal, writing page-one profiles of CEOs, billionaires, and presidential candidates, but journalism is only one of Langley’s many careers. She’s also been a lawyer, author, executive, and now, a professor.
In 2024, Langley joined Haslam as a professor of practice to lead strategy on showcasing the college, particularly with C-suite executives and business leaders nationwide. Most recently, Langley was the executive vice president of global strategy for Salesforce, the blue-chip tech giant.
“I bring to Haslam the same approach that’s been the throughline for my varied roles over four decades,” Langley says. “Strategy and storytelling.” She’s already deploying this approach, using her extensive experience, expertise, and connections to enhance the college’s visibility in the corporate world while providing students with behind-the-scenes insights.
Practically, this work involves hosting campus events and video podcasts, bringing in visiting CEOs and executives, and working with department heads and center directors to highlight their work.
For example, this fall, Langley moderated an economics debate co-sponsored by Haslam and the Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy. Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, says Langley’s leadership at that event stood out. “Monica is someone who has been at the highest levels of the corporate and media worlds,” Strain says. “She brings a high level of sophistication and real-world savvy to the university, and she clearly loves the school.”
A first-generation college student from Knoxville, Langley’s childhood stretched her imagination and vision for her future. “My mom took me every week to the library to develop my love of reading and writing, and my dad took me to his office to develop my love of business,” she says. “Starting then, I began formulating the strategy and story for my life, though clearly I didn’t know to call it that yet!”
Langley studied journalism at UT, where she was a Torchbearer, and earned a law degree from Georgetown University before landing at The Wall Street Journal. While most of her career has been with the esteemed newspaper, Langley also spent several years practicing corporate law, wrote two bestselling business books, and hosted a YouTube show of CEO conversations.
Langley’s storied career has included significant time and proximity spent with influential and powerful people, including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Salesforce founder/CEO Marc Benioff, and President Donald Trump. With her corporate and media worlds in the rear view, she’s now immersed in academia and enthusiastically extolling “Haslam’s rock stars” who lead the research and academic programs at the college.
“Haslam’s top-notch faculty and students impress me every day,” Langley says, “As a Vol for Life, I’m excited and grateful to do my part expanding their profile and impact.”
