Sherron Watkins, the former Enron employee who alerted then-CEO Ken Lay of accounting irregularities, presents “Power Failure: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron” on Saturday February 28, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. in Balch Auditorium, located on the Scripps College campus. This lecture is free and open to the public on a first come first serve basis. Please call the Malott Commons Office at (909) 607-9372 for information.
Since her admission to Ken Lay, Watkins has testified before the House and Senate Congressional Committees investigating Enron’s demise. Now an independent speaker and consultant, Watkins recently co-authored, along with prize winning journalist Mimi Swartz, Power Failure, The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron (Doubleday, 2003).
In recognition of her outstanding demonstration of ethics in the work place, Watkins received honors including Court TV’s Scales of Justice and Everyday Heroes awards, and the Women Mean Business Award from the Business and Professional Women/USA Organization. In addition, Watkins was included in Barbara Walters’ list of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2002, in TIME magazine’s 2002 Persons of the Year, and in Glamour magazine as one of the 2002 Women of the Year.
Watkins joined Enron in 1993 as manager of Enron’s $1 billion-plus portfolio of energy related investments. In 1997, she transferred to the company’s international group, focusing on mergers and acquisitions of energy assets around the world. By 2001, Watkins joined the mergers and acquisitions group of Enron Corp. She resigned in November 2002.
Prior to joining Enron, Watkins worked as portfolio manager of MG Trade Finance Corp’s commodity assets and before this, in Arthur Anderson’s auditing group. Watkins is a certified public accountant. She holds a M.A. in professional accounting and a B.B.A. in accounting and business from the University of Texas at Austin.
The lecture is part of the Scripps Alumnae College and the Alexa Fullerton Hampton Series, “Trailblazers,” at Scripps College. The Alexa Fullerton Hampton Series is made possible through the generous bequest of Alexa Fullerton Hampton, Scripps class of 1942.