The NIU College of Business hosted its annual Global MBA Digital Lab Showcase Wednesday, Oct. 15 in Barsema Hall’s De La Vega Innovation Lab at Barsema Hall. The event brought together students, alumni and business professionals for a dynamic morning of innovation, feedback and networking — offering a real-world bridge between the classroom and the boardroom.
“I believe that managers get paid for what they do and for making quality decisions, not merely only knowing stuff,” said Professor Vijay Krishnan Palghat, who leads the MKTG 654 course. “As part of instilling these traits, a student is required to think of an innovative direct-to-consumer brand or product and create a whole digital marketing plan and a business plan around it. To mimic the real-world experience, students are required to develop an elevator spiel that they deliver to a potential investor.”
Designed as an in-class experience for Global MBA students, this project does not focus solely on theoretical business models. Instead, students worked in teams to develop strategies that incorporated digital marketing, branding and data-driven execution. The showcase represented the culmination of weeks of research, creativity and collaboration.
“The biggest thing I learned from the digital showcase event was seeing how a project can grow from an initial concept into a finished product,” said Global MBA student Caroline Kent, who also earned her B.S. degree in business administration from NIU in May 2025. “Over the course of eight weeks, I experienced every stage of the process — from brainstorming and research to design and presentation. Showcasing what started as a personal idea to alumni was incredibly rewarding, as it reflected the effort I put into the class and demonstrated how the research and design skills I learned could be applied in a real-world, professional setting.”
What made this event particularly distinctive was the involvement of guest judges —industry professionals and NIU alumni who brought real-world expertise to the classroom. Judges reviewed and evaluated each team’s marketing strategies, posed questions about execution and results, and provided constructive feedback designed to strengthen students’ business acumen. Their participation not only enhanced the learning experience but also helped students better understand how their ideas resonated in professional settings.
Event organizers emphasized that the presence of alumni and business leaders played a critical mentoring role.
“Our students gained incredible value from hearing firsthand perspectives from professionals who have been where they aspire to go,” said Becca Husar, associate director of innovation and partnership development. “Their insights gave students confidence and helped connect academic knowledge to practical application.”
“The digital showcase was an impressive event overall, and what stood out to me most was the level of preparation and professionalism each student brought to their presentation,” said Ryan Miller, who earned his B.S. degree in human resource management in 2022 and his Global MBA in 2025. He traveled back to NIU to serve as a judge at the event. “You could tell how much effort went into their projects, and it was great to see how confidently they tied classroom concepts to real-world business applications.”
The showcase embodied NIU’s commitment to applied learning, which is a hallmark of our college’s mission. By engaging directly with seasoned professionals, Global MBA students gained a clearer understanding of how to navigate the complexities of modern digital markets. For judges, the event offered a meaningful way to give back, share expertise and help shape the next generation of business leaders.
If you are interested in opportunities to engage with NIU business students through programming in our De La Vega Innovation Lab, contact Becca Husar, bhusar@niu.edu.
