BYU Marriott School of Business and Brigham Young University honored Herman E. Bulls with its 2022 International Executive of the Year Award.
Bulls is a vice chairman, Americas, for JLL, and is also an international director, founder, and former chair and CEO of the firm's highly acclaimed Public Institutions business unit.
Bulls received the award during BYU Marriott’s annual National Advisory Council conference held during the fall semester. BYU president Kevin J Worthen and BYU Marriott dean Brigitte C. Madrian presented the award, and Richard E. Marriott, chairman of the board of Host Hotels & Resorts, introduced Bulls as a keynote speaker. In his introduction, Marriott outlined five principles of success—putting people first, pursuing excellence, embracing change, acting with integrity, and serving others—noting that Bulls “exhibits all of these values and has pursued excellence and service throughout his life.”
Established by BYU Marriott 40 years ago, the International Executive of the Year Award is the most prestigious award given by BYU Marriott and is designed to honor outstanding executives who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and high moral and ethical standards. Previous recipients include Gail McGovern, CEO of the American Red Cross; Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and CIA director; and James S. Turley, Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young.
During his acceptance remarks, Bulls talked about how his mother, who was pregnant with her seventh child—him—when her husband died, instilled the importance of education in each of her children. Bulls noted that he and his siblings earned 11 degrees among them.
In addition, he shared a pivotal experience he had about 20 years ago when he took an introspective look at his life. “I realized there was a difference between networking and connecting,” he observed. “Networking is important. However, at its base, it is very transactional: you do something for me, I do something for you. When you connect with someone, you are willing to do something for them and with them without regard for what you will receive in return. If you are able to do that authentically, consistently, it is amazing. That ability to connect helped me develop deep relationships, which contributed to my success.”
Bulls also noted that when “much is given, much is expected. As a business and academic community—those of you in this room tonight—we have truly been blessed,” he stated. “We have the responsibility to teach the next generation. This is done when we have the courage to speak up with dignity, strive to be on the right side of history, and are motivated to make a positive difference.”
During his more than three decades at JLL, Bulls has worked in areas of development, investment management, asset management, facilities operations, and business development/retention. He has served in courts of law as an expert witness on real estate matters and has testified on real estate issues before congressional committees. In addition, he cofounded and served as president and CEO of Bulls Capital Partners, a multifamily financing company, and founded Bulls Advisory Group LLC, a management and real estate advisory firm.
Prior to joining JLL, Bulls completed almost 12 years of active-duty service with the United States Army, including working in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management at the Pentagon and as an assistant professor of economics and finance at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has completed the army’s Airborne, Ranger, and Command and General Staff College courses and served overseas in the Republic of Korea. He retired as a colonel in the US Army Reserves in 2008 and received the Legion of Merit Award. Bulls serves on several public, private, and not-for-profit boards.
The BYU Marriott School of Business aspires to transform the world through Christlike leadership by developing leaders of faith, intellect, and character. Named for benefactors J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, the school is located at Brigham Young University. BYU Marriott has four graduate and nine undergraduate programs with an enrollment of approximately 3,300 students.
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Writer: Kellene Ricks Adams
