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Kogod School of Business
Industry events play an invaluable role in shaping the career paths of business students across various disciplines. From major industry conferences to niche workshops, industry events are opportunities for both knowledge sharing and relationship building.
What can attendees at industry events expect?
Career Insights: Gain firsthand knowledge about different career paths and industry trends.
Professional Development: Attend workshops and panels that enhance key business skills and keep attendees abreast of industry trends, innovations, challenges, and opportunities in the field.
Recruitment and Job Prospects: Meet recruiters and explore internship or job opportunities.
Exposure to Thought Leaders: Hear from executives, entrepreneurs, and experts sharing their experiences and advice. Discover new ideas and fresh perspectives to inspire and fuel your career growth!
Hands-On Learning: Participate in case competitions and pitch sessions. Present research and business ideas to industry peers and professionals while building creditability and visibility.
Some benefits of attending events include:
Insights into Market Trends: Attending conferences, panel discussions, and workshops provides students with firsthand exposure to emerging industries, disruptive technologies, and evolving market strategies (not to mention what some of the biggest players in the space think about them). This exposure to new ideas, new technologies, and new ways of thinking about business challenges provides much-needed real-world perspective to students navigating dynamic business landscapes.
Exposure to Key Players: Industry events serve as a hub for learning from and connecting with thought leaders and industry experts, business peers and potential employers. Engaging with other professionals presents opportunities for internships, job placements, and mentorship, fostering professional growth and expanding students' career horizons.
Skill Enhancement: Many events feature workshops and training sessions designed to enhance students' analytical abilities, negotiation skills, and business acumen. These practical, hands-on sessions are essential for building necessary skills needed to succeed in business.
Industry conferences are invaluable for students to network effectively. The 'collision' opportunities they provide with industry professionals enhance students' confidence and knowledge, paving the way for meaningful relationships that can lead to mentoring, internships, or job opportunities."

Tommy White
Director, Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship
At the 2024 DC Startup and Tech Week, which the Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship sponsored, American University students joined hundreds of startup CEOs, aspiring founders, and investors, for a week of panels, networking, showcases, and pitches. This type of experience provides students with firsthand opportunities to learn from—and even build relationships with—people that inspire them in the field that interests them most.
While attending conferences and events locally has its obvious perks, many large industry-wide conferences happen in hub cities for different industries. Ten Kogod School of Business students with an interest in tech and venture capital traveled to San Francisco for TechCrunch Disrupt. “The TechCrunch Disrupt conference revealed the transformative power of AI and collaborative networks in shaping the future of entrepreneurship,” said the student attendees as a collective. “Being there highlighted the essential role of startup agility and adaptability, allowing us to hear directly from groundbreaking founders and top investors about what it takes to succeed in today’s challenging markets. These cutting-edge events not only inspire, but they also equip emerging entrepreneurs with the tools and networks needed to push boundaries, drive change, and realize ambitious visions in the rapidly evolving world of technology and AI.”
Interested in learning more about real-world learning opportunities for business students? Check out Kogod’s approach to learning.