On April 25, the College of Business Administration hosted its inaugural CBA Innovation Symposium, a day-long gathering that brought together students, faculty, alumni, and industry trailblazers to explore the theme: "Shaping the Future of Business Through Technological Transformation."
Organized by the CBA Centers, the event offered a platform for sharing insights, showcasing innovation, and fostering collaboration across academia and industry.
Inspiring Keynotes and Thought Leadership
The event kicked off with a welcome address and keynote by Singelyn Family Dean Sandeep Krishnamurthy who set the tone with his address, "Ethical Innovation: Creating Sustainable Futures."
Dean Krishnamurthy shared takeaways and tips from his recent book“Understanding AI: Uncommon Insights for the Busy Learner,” and emphasized the importance of responsible tech-driven progress in building sustainable business ecosystems.
Robert Barrios, CPP alumnus, Chief Information Officer at Gallo, followed with his keynote, "Innovating for Impact: Shaping the Future Through Collaboration and Creativity." Drawing from Gallo’s successful business model, he highlighted the need for agility and creativity in leadership to thrive in an ever-evolving digital world.
Elizabeth Scallon, Director of Incubation at HP presented on "How to Think Like a Startup," encouraging students and professionals to always focus on customers and cultivate a mindset of continuous experimentation and adaptability. Dean Carignan of Microsoft rounded out the keynote series with an inspiring presentation on innovation at scale from his perspective as Partner Program Manager in the Office of the Chief Scientist, drawing on several examples from his co-authored book, “The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft.”
Spotlight on CBA Centers
Throughout the day, CBA Centers took center stage with presentations from Singelyn Center for Innovative Analytics, Center for Customer Insights and Digital Marketing, Mitchell C. Hill Center for Digital Innovation, and California Center for Cyber Risk. Presentationsillustrated the impactful work being done by students and faculty, ranging from predictive analytics to digital marketing to cybersecurity advancements, underscoring the CBA’s role as a hub for innovation.
Panels on Careers and Innovation
The event featured two panel discussions featuring leaders across sectors of technology, human resources, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and business innovation.
Preeti Wadhwa, Professor of Management and Human Resources,moderated a panel exploring the evolving landscape of careers and employment trends across industries, offering students and attendees invaluable insights into future opportunities and professional development.Panelists included Canserina Kurnia, Senior Solutions Engineer, Higher Ed, ESRI; Eileen Santos, HR Program Manager, AMH; Jason James, Partner and vCISO, Regents & Park, Inc; and Johans Acosta, Global Solution Architect AI/ML, Splunk.
Anthony Orlando, Associate Professor of Finance, Real Estate, and Law, moderated a panel on the State of Innovation in Business. Bringing together innovators at the forefront of business and technology, this discussion examined how cutting-edge research and emerging tools, like AI and digital platforms, are shaping the future of industries and redefining what’s possible.
Panelists included Helen Thompson, Distinguished Product Engineer, ArcGIS Business Analysis and Geoenrichment Service, ESRI, Inc; Joe Erian, USG Anti-Tamper Executive Agent, Senior Principal Engineer, Modern Technology Solutions Inc; Nilutpal Pegu, Vice President, Global Head of Digital, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc; and Roya Kandalan, Generative AI Research Scientist.
Trivia Challenge and Hands-on Skills Workshops
CBA students Mehek Jain and Matthew Prado added some light-hearted fun to the day with an audience-engagement Jeopardy-style trivia challenge organized around themes of innovation in various fields and innovation at CPP.
The symposium also featured hands-on skills workshops for students and professionals alike to gain exposure to industry-relevant tools, closing the day with actionable takeaways. “One of the goals of the symposium was to provide students, professionals, and faculty a space to explore where business and technology are heading, and how we can all play a part in shaping it,” said Rita Kumar, Professor of Technology and Operations Management, and Faculty Director, Singelyn Center for Innovative Analytics, who co-chaired the conference with the other CBA Center Directors.
Saurabh Parate, a digital marketing student at Cal Poly Pomona’s Singelyn Graduate School of Business, added, “It was exciting to hear directly from people working on the front lines of innovation. The sessions gave me a better sense of where the industry is heading, and how I can contribute. It definitely inspired me to think bigger.”
The symposium was organized by the CBA Centers, spearheaded by Faculty Directors Rita Kumar and Mehrdad Koohikamali (Singelyn Center for Innovative Analytics), Jae Min Jung (Center for Customer Insights and Digital Marketing), Indira Guzman (Mitchell C. Hill Center for Digital Innovation), and Weijun Zheng (California Center for Cyber Risk); with inspiration and support from Dean Sandeep Krishnamurthy and Associate Dean Cheryl Wyrick.