The driving factor has been and will continue to be the Smith School’s concentration on research and teaching that focuses on the integration of business and technology. In the new economy, information technology is the driving force in business. The Smith School must continue to provide leadership in advancing business knowledge and thinking for this digital economy. And we must continue to provide students with the technical knowledge and skills they need to adapt and prosper in markets that we cannot predict.

In this special issue of SMITHbusiness, we take an in-depth look at what it means to be an institution identified by the phrase “leaders for the digital economy,” the tag line adopted by the Smith School in 2003. And we explore the school’s vision, which is to become a model for business education and knowledge advancement for the 21st century.

The Smith School’s ascent to a position of leadership relies, in large part, on the support of alumni, corporations and other friends of the Smith School. Many of the school’s accomplishments in recent years would not have been possible without the generous support of Robert H. Smith, a 1950 graduate of the school. In this special issue, the Washington, D.C.-area real estate developer shares his thoughts on business in the 21st century, leadership, giving, and of course the school that bears his name. We also walk back in time, charting the school’s course from the very beginning. If you are an alumnus, this historical timeline is sure to bring back some fantastic memories. For me, it is was an opportunity to once again marvel at the pace at which this young school has advanced.

Today Smith attracts the very best students, boasts a world-class faculty, and is housed in one of the most advanced research and learning spaces anywhere. Can we do better? Absolutely. Greatness is on the horizon.