Online Programs Announcements
| | Cozad New Venture Challenge 2025: A Capstone Opportunity for Innovators | Earn credit for one specialization capstone by joining a capstone course for the Cozad New Venture Challenge at no additional cost! Hosted by The Grainger College of Engineering and sponsored by Gies College of Business, this challenge helps you grow your business and entrepreneurship skills. Open to all University of Illinois learners (on-campus and online), the event offers remote Zoom workshops throughout the semester to develop your ideas with mentorship, funding, and skill-building opportunities. Pitch your innovative startup at Demo Day on April 2, 2025, at UIUC, for a chance to win a share of $500,000. Finalist teams must attend the finals on April 17, 2025, in person. Learn more about the challenge here. Register by February 2 to participate. For challenge questions, please contact Kearsa Rawson. Questions about the specialization capstone credit and course send to i-support@illinois.edu.
| | Apply Now for the Carle Capstone Project | There is still time to apply for the 2025 - 2026 Carle Capstone Project, a unique interdisciplinary opportunity for iMBA learners to collaborate with peers in medicine and engineering. This year- long experiential learning course focuses on solving real healthcare challenges by developing innovative, marketable products. iMBA learners who participate in the Carle Capstone project will fulfill both of their specialization capstone requirements. Eligible learners residing in the U.S. with at least 30 credit hours are encouraged to apply by 11:59 PM CT on Friday, February 7. Visit our calendar page for full details on the Carle Capstone project, application link and process, and key deadlines.
| | Gies Researchers Cited in Latest CBO Climate Change Report | As the world continues to study and mitigate the effects of climate change, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cited three Gies Business studies, in its report, “The Risks of Climate Change to the United States in the 21st Century.” To read more about the implications for the impact on the global economy, see the report here.
| | Gender Diversity Among Board Directors Improves Company Efficiency | Board Director gender diversity has long been a topic of interest for researchers. Recent research by Gies faculty Clara Xiaoling Chen and David Godsell, together with Gies PhD graduate Dave (Young-Il) Baik, now an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, has documented significant improvements in companies’ investment efficiency following regulatory interventions designed to increase gender diversity among board directors. Read more about their research here.
| Events
| | Women in Business Conference: Connect, Empower, Succeed | | Thursday, March 6 | 1:00 - 5:00 pm CT - Friday, March 7 | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm CT | Register Here | Registration is open for Women in Business: Connect, Empower, Succeed, a virtual conference hosted by Gies Graduate Programs. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow through 8 insightful sessions spread over two half days on March 6 and 7. You'll hear from industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts on topics such as empowerment, leadership, entrepreneurial support, skill development, and networking. Whether you're a current Gies learner, interested in exploring business education, or simply looking to enhance your knowledge, this conference provides valuable insights, mentorship opportunities, and a chance to expand your professional network. In addition, event attendees will receive an Accredible digital badge as recognition of their participation. Review the event agenda here.
| This Week at Gies
Use the Event Calendar for information on upcoming events, such as iConverge and iDegree Convocation, as well as academic dates and deadlines for the semester. Click event titles below for details on the events happening this week.
| | Registration Deadline for Cozad New Venture Challenge | Sunday, February 2
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