Dan and Robyn Ives AI Innovation Day explores AI as a core business skill

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When today’s business students enter the workforce, they will compete not only with their peers, but also with algorithms capable of analyzing data, generating content and automating decisions at unprecedented speed. Leaders at the Penn State Smeal College of Business addressed these realities during the second annual Dan and Robyn Ives AI Innovation Day, held earlier this month in the Business Building.

Students, faculty and industry experts gathered in the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Atrium to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping business and what that shift means for undergraduate education.

“The needle that we are all trying to thread here is how we make sure our students understand how to leverage AI ethically, responsibly, effectively and creatively, while simultaneously preserving the things that make them human beings: their judgment, their critical thinking and their creativity,” said John and Karen Arnold Dean Corey Phelps.

Hosted by Smeal’s eLearning and Innovation Design Group, the event reflected a broader transformation underway within Smeal: AI is no longer treated as a niche topic, but as a core competency across business disciplines.

Interactive sessions encouraged students to engage with AI regardless of their major, underscoring a shift in how future business leaders are being prepared.

The day featured keynote speaker sessions, fireside chats, a case competition, student‑exclusive programming, networking opportunities and an AI showcase highlighting research and student projects from across the college.

Speakers included Daniel Ives, global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities; David Steinberg, CEO of Zeta Global; Carolyn Mulhern, executive vice president of manufacturing at Palantir; Amit Kukreja, creator of the Amit Investing YouTube channel; Mike Rollins, distinguished vice president analyst at Gartner; France Hoang, founder and CEO of BoodleBox; and Raymond Kusch, CEO and founder of American Inference, among others.

“AI adoption isn’t just a technological challenge,” Phelps said. “It’s a cultural transformation.”

Cultural and curricular innovation

Ives, a Smeal finance alumnus and managing director and senior equity research analyst at Wedbush Securities, emphasized the urgency of integrating AI into business education. He said he tracks how emerging technologies are reshaping industries and the skills students will need to remain competitive.

“It’s very important for students to understand how AI impacts them in terms of their career choices, internships and learning,” Ives said. “Smeal is becoming one of the leaders in the country when it comes to branding and teaching students how to be successful in this AI world.”

As AI continues to disrupt the labor market, business schools face increasing pressure to demonstrate how they are preparing students for what comes next. Ives stressed that AI fluency should cut across academic “verticals,” from marketing and finance to accounting and analytics.

“Regardless of the discipline, students need to develop the ability to code and understand how to apply AI in the functional area they’re studying,” he said. “This will be a huge part of their arsenal when they enter the workforce and a significant advantage over people who’ve been in the workforce for decades.”

Calling artificial intelligence “the biggest technological innovation we’ve seen in our lifetime,” Ives urged students to see AI not as a threat, but as a tool that can amplify human talent.

Advice for students

Following Ives’ session, Mulhern and Steinberg joined him on stage for a discussion about the future of AI, the growing importance of data and how undergraduates can position themselves for success.

Mulhern encouraged students to seek hands‑on experience whenever possible.

“Getting firsthand operational experience will be the best thing for your long‑term career,” she said. “Find your superpower. Find your kryptonite.”

Steinberg echoed that advice, emphasizing adaptability and curiosity as defining traits for the next generation of leaders.

“If you come out of school asking, ‘How do I use this technology better and embrace it?’ those graduates will be the winners,” he said. He offered the same guidance he gives his own children: “Stay curious.”

Women in AI panel

The "Women in AI" panel explored how artificial intelligence can enhance, rather than replace, human work. Panelists included:

• Jess Awtrey, senior vice president of sales for BoodleBox
• Tawnya Means, founding partner and principal at Inspire HigherEd
• Sally Munter, senior sales leader at Gartner
• Carolyn Mulhern, a Smeal alumna who is executive vice president of manufacturing at Palantir
• Amanda Showers, enterprise account executive at Gartner

The speakers agreed that AI delivers the most value when it eliminates repetitive or administrative tasks, allowing professionals to focus on higher‑level thinking, creativity and meaningful engagement.

“Collaboration is so important in recognizing how technology can guide you to be a better person and engage more deeply with others,” Means said. “Becoming a better human is far more important than simply becoming smarter or acquiring a checklist of technical skills.”

AI showcase and student innovation

The day concluded with an AI showcase and networking event featuring 19 booths highlighting student and faculty research and projects. Attendees learned how Smeal’s AI strategy is extending beyond the classroom into applied research and student‑led initiatives.

Andy Salvo, a first‑year intended accounting student, represented the Penn State Applied AI Club, a new organization focused on helping students explore AI through guest speakers, projects and collaboration. The club is currently developing a centralized AI student hub to bring together resources.

“We’re building a website where students can go to one place and learn about everything related to AI, what’s happening on campus, what’s happening in the world and how they can apply AI in school or the workplace,” Salvo said. “We’re responsible for curating that experience.”

Chynna Kelly, a first-year intended finance student, presented an independent project examining how undergraduates are using AI in academic work.

“There’s a misconception that students are using AI as a form of cheating,” Kelly said. “But when structured properly, it can actually guide students toward deeper learning and help expand their abilities.”

Faculty members also participated in the showcase. Leaders from the Center for Supply Chain Research demonstrated how internal AI tools are being used to support industry‑focused work.

“We’re all in a transitional process,” said Sergey Naumov, associate professor of supply chain management. “Academia needs to work on problems that matter to industry, and industry needs to tell us what problems they care about. That collaboration is essential.”