LVT President Chris Beckstead Shares Seven Lessons on Career Excellence and Leading High-Growth Companies

LVT president and former Qualtrics executive Chris Beckstead joined Utah Valley University’s Halladay Executive Lecture Series to share his presentation on the valuable career lessons he wished he learned sooner, from building career breadth to becoming an intentional leader.

   

Utah Valley University (UVU) welcomed Chris Beckstead, president of LiveViewTechnologies (LVT), as a guest speaker for the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series on Thursday, October 8, 2026. 

A grid-style collage with three images. From left to right: Chris Beckstead holds up a small presentation remote while delivering his lecture to an audience of UVU students, faculty, and staff; Chris Beckstead stands at the base of the staircase in the foyer of the Scott C. and Karen Keller Building at Utah Valley University’s Orem campus. Behind him, students walk by in the background; Chris Beckstead walks across the stage at Vallejo Auditorium while pointing toward a bright presentation screen, out of frame.

Chris shared a presentation titled “7 Things I Wish I Learned Earlier,” drawing from more than 25 years of experience in the technology sector and his career scaling high-growth organizations. He encouraged students to reflect on the lessons they can learn early in their academic and professional journeys. 

Follow Your Passion: Finding Work That Energizes and Motivates 

A central theme of Beckstead’s message was the importance of pursuing work that aligns with personal passion. He encouraged students to seek opportunities that genuinely interest and motivate them rather than simply following a path they do not care about. He explained that passion can provide the energy and commitment needed to continue growing through challenges. 

Chris Beckstead stands onstage speaking between two large presentation screens in front of an audience of students, faculty, and staff at the Scott C. and Karen Keller Building at Utah Valley University’s Orem campus. The presentation screens display the text: ‘“Your Peers Are Your Competition’ | ‘“Comparison is the thief of joy’”

Why Breadth Matters: Raising Your Ceiling Through Diverse Experience 

Beckstead also emphasized the value of breadth in both education and career development. He explained that gaining experience across different areas of a business can raise an individual’s ceiling within an industry. By being willing to learn new areas of expertise throughout his career, Beckstead was able to develop a broader perspective and take on increasingly significant leadership responsibilities. 

From CFO to President: Scaling Qualtrics From $40 Million to Nearly $2 Billion 

Before joining LVT in September 2025, Beckstead spent 12 years at Qualtrics, where he advanced through several leadership roles, including CFO, COO, and president. During his time with the company, he helped grow annual revenue from less than $40 million to nearly $2 billion and helped guide Qualtrics through major milestones, including a multibillion-dollar acquisition, an IPO, and a subsequent private sale. 

Chris Beckstead stands onstage speaking in front of an audience of students, faculty, and staff at the Scott C. and Karen Keller Building at Utah Valley University’s Orem campus.

Choosing the Values That Guide Your Leadership 

Beckstead also reflected on the people who influenced his professional path. He shared that observing both strong and ineffective leaders helped him identify the kind of leader he wanted to become. His experiences reinforced the importance of learning from those around you, developing self-awareness, and intentionally choosing the values that will guide your leadership. 

From left to right: Chris Beckstead stands in front of a presentation screen that displays the text, “Discover what you’re good at”; Students seated across multiple rows of chairs in Vallejo Auditorium while listening to Chris Beckstead’s lecture; Chris Beckstead speaks to an audience of UVU students while gesturing to a presentation screen with a colorful circular diagram.

The Woodbury School of Business thanks Chris Beckstead for sharing his experience and insight with UVU students. His message reinforced the value of following one’s passions, building a broad set of skills, and learning from the examples of others while developing a meaningful career. 

Want to catch every insight from this year’s Halladay Lecture Series?

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL FALL 2026 HALLADAY LECTURE SERIES SPEAKERS HERE.

Watch Chris Beckstead's full lecture below. 

 
 
 

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