In 2018, PAR Technology Corporation CEO Savneet Singh '05 took over a foodservice hardware company on the brink of bankruptcy. By early 2021, he'd rebuilt PAR into a thriving software-first company with a $1.4 billion market cap.
On April 17, Singh will share exactly how he did it. As part of the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management's Better Business Week, he will deliver his Dean's Distinguished Lecture from 3-4:30 p.m. in Warren Hall Room 401. The lecture is open to the public and will be preceded by an invite-only luncheon.
In his talk, Singh will explain the strategic decisions he made to extend PAR's reach into the software market for restaurants, convenience and fuel retailers, including major shifts to product strategy and company culture.
"I believed that software costs could eat a restaurant without restaurants realizing it," he said. "I felt that the right way to serve a customer was to consolidate their technology platform instead of selling them random tools, and I was fascinated by the idea of creating a tech company in a space that no one thought was possible."
Jinhua Zhao, the David J. Nolan Dean of the Dyson School, will be introducing Singh.
"Savneet Singh's leadership reshaped the trajectory of PAR Technology, transforming the company into a leading provider of foodservice software," Zhao said. "The Dyson School is honored to welcome him as the Dean's Distinguished Lecturer during Better Business Week. We look forward to hearing his insights on executive decision-making and effective leadership."
The Dyson Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series brings thought leaders in business and the arts to share ideas with Dyson faculty, staff, students and the broader Cornell community, upholding the Dyson School's commitment to intellectual curiosity.
Before stepping into his role at PAR, Singh was a co-founder of Gold Bullion International (GBI), an electronic platform allowing investors to buy, trade and store precious metals. Presently, he is also a partner of CoVenture, LLC, a fintech-based asset management firm, and a board member at Community Bank, N.A.
