Smith’s Got Talent
On Smith’s Got Talent, host Kim Rice DeGross, the Assistant Dean of OCS, sits down with students, alumni, and professors at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business to highlight successful innovative projects, real-world applications, and industry collaborations. Episodes include discussions of transformative educational projects, such as experiential learning in finance and the development of technology solutions, showcasing the school's commitment to integrating academic learning with practical, impactful outcomes. Every episode features a segment from esteemed AI expert Professor Balaji Padmanabhan, who discusses the intersection of AI with each topic.
Latest Episode
Season 2, Episode 4: Careers in Accounting: KPMG’s Global Opportunities, AI Innovation, and Partnership with Smith
In this episode of Smith's Got Talent, Kim DeGross spotlights KPMG as part of the "Careers in Accounting" series, featuring insights from Derek Thomas, National Partner-in-Charge of university talent acquisition, Corbin Neiberline, Federal Audit Practice Partner, and recent Smith graduate Ababakar Sow. The discussion highlights KPMG's strong partnership with the Smith School, its unique programs like the Embark Scholars and Global Internship Program, and its emphasis on leadership, adaptability, and responsible AI use. Ababakar shares his inspiring journey, including his global internship in Malaysia, showcasing the opportunities and culture that make KPMG a standout employer for Smith students.
Season 2
In this episode of Smith's Got Talent, Kim DeGross highlights CohnReznick's strong partnership with the Smith School as part of the "Careers in Accounting" series. Campus Recruiter Anita Galiano, Audit Manager Ethan Schless, and recent Smith graduate Ann Joby discuss the firm's culture, unique opportunities like case studies and the CohnReznick Capstone competition, and the importance of critical thinking, teamwork, and networking. The conversation offers valuable advice on standing out at career fairs, leveraging AI responsibly, and building meaningful relationships to succeed in the accounting field.
In this episode of Smith's Got Talent, Kim DeGross spotlights EY as part of the "Careers in Accounting" series, showcasing the firm’s strong partnership with the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. EY Campus Recruiter Lolita Hill, Partner Mark Rabinowitz, and recent Smith graduate Nadia Khan discuss EY’s unique culture, recruiting process, and career growth opportunities, emphasizing the importance of soft skills, leadership, and adaptability. The conversation highlights how Smith students are prepared to excel in accounting careers and how EY supports their professional development.
In this episode of Smith's Got Talent, Kim DeGross continues the "Careers in Accounting" series by spotlighting Deloitte, a top employer of Smith School talent, and its partnership with the University of Maryland. Campus Recruiter Marissa Smith, Managing Director Susan Chutka, and Smith alum Jimmy Miller share insights into Deloitte’s recruiting process, the qualities sought in candidates, and the unique opportunities for growth within the firm. The discussion highlights the use of AI, the importance of soft skills, adaptability, and personal connections in building successful careers in accounting.
Past Episodes
Season 1
In this episode of Smith's Got Talent, Kim DeGross highlights the successful collaboration between the Center for Global Business and Premier Health Group through the Maximizing Maryland Graduate Internship Program. Marina Augoustidis, Associate Director of the Center for Global Business, shares how the program connects talented Smith students, like Seuun Park, with Maryland-based companies to tackle real-world challenges. The discussion explores the transformative impact of student-led projects on Premier Health Group’s operations, showcasing how AI and innovative strategies improved efficiency, enhanced healthcare delivery, and created career opportunities for participating students.
In this episode of Smith's Got Talent, Kim DeGross highlights the impactful collaboration between the Center for Global Business and ECObiotix, a company tackling wastewater treatment challenges. Marina Augoustidis, associate director of the Center for Global Business, shares how the Maryland Global Consulting Program connects talented students like Vaishnavi Patil with small businesses like ECObiotix to address real-world challenges. Founder Ty Duggins and Vaishnavi discuss their transformative partnership, emphasizing the role of AI, teamwork, and innovative thinking in driving eco-friendly solutions for public health and environmental sustainability.
In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking Space at Smith program, led by Professor Jon Crocker, which introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the emerging field of space commerce. Students Bryan Baires and Logan Daeninckx share their experiences in the program, discussing their passion for aerospace, the industry’s growing opportunities, and their involvement in innovative projects like the Terp Raptor CubeSat mission. The conversation highlights the collaboration between business and engineering, the importance of supply chain management in space, and the transformative potential of space commerce for the future.
In this episode of Smith’s Got Talent, we spotlight Aiden Polinsky, a Smith School student and founder of Campus AI, a groundbreaking platform that enhances the student experience through AI-driven tools. Joined by Associate Dean Joseph Bailey and Professor Balaji Padmanabhan, the discussion explores how Campus AI integrates fragmented campus resources into a unified system to help students navigate academics, career opportunities, and campus life more efficiently. The episode highlights Aiden's entrepreneurial journey, his vision for transforming higher education, and the role of AI in creating personalized, value-driven solutions for students.
In this episode of Smith’s Got Talent, we explore the innovative leadership class co-taught by Sheetal Singh, an award-winning organizational psychologist, and Coach Michael Locksley, head football coach at the University of Maryland. They share how the class blends theory and real-world practice, teaching students like James Consoli to embrace vulnerability, authenticity, and diverse leadership styles. The conversation highlights personal growth, teamwork, and the importance of adaptability in leadership across sports, business, and life challenges.
In this episode of Smith's Got Talent, we feature the Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, led by Mike Hoffmeyer. We highlight Anthony Kang, a sophomore and co-founder of Quello, an emotional AI companion. Anthony shares his entrepreneurial journey from middle school side hustles to developing Quello, a product aimed at addressing mental health issues through innovative AI technology. Professor Balaji explains how AI may not have the same values as humans and therefore will need humans to serve as “pilots."
In this episode of Smith’s Got Talent, discover how using AI responsibly can boost business models, emphasize ethical data usage and springboard strategic innovation. MBA and M.S. in Marketing Analytics student Victor Su and marketing professor Mary Beth Furst discuss AI in business ethics and case studies, specifically the Fisher Case Competition with Bath and Body Works. You'll hear about the competition's challenges and learning opportunities, and the importance of teamwork and diverse perspectives in tackling complex business problems. In our AI segment, Professor Balaji Padmanabhan talks about the role of ethics in AI implementation.
In this episode of Smith’s Got Talent, Professor Cliff Rossi and student Hrushikesh Ravindra Ghaisas from the Smith School of Business discuss their involvement in a groundbreaking experiential learning project supported by the Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium. The project focused on using AI tools to assess and rate the effectiveness of credit risk management strategies in banks and fintech companies, providing valuable insights for the industry while offering students real-world experience in risk management. Professor Balaji Padmanabhan discusses AI’s evolving role in creating reports that shape sentiment.
In this episode of Smith’s Got Talent, Master's students Ahmad Mohi Ud Din and Fiaz Ahmad from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland discuss their success in the Global Sustainability Supply Chain student competition, where they presented Project Maple Guard, a solution for managing excess inventory in the fresh produce industry. Supported by professors Martin Dresner and Humberto Coronado, the students highlight the importance of collaboration, leadership, and storytelling in crafting their detailed, financially sound proposals, which earned them accolades in the competition. In the AI segment, Balaji Padmanabhan shares how Smith students looked at food waste to help the Capital Area Food Bank in a competition.
In this episode of Smith’s Got Talent, recent Smith Master of Science in Information Systems alumni Aromal Sudheer Nair and Krishang Parakh discuss their project, STRATPATH AI, a platform that helps students prepare for job interviews using customizable case studies, supported by the Smith Office of Experiential Learning. Guided by Professor Nicole Coomber, the platform aims to streamline recruitment and training processes for companies, making hiring more efficient and accessible while enhancing student career readiness. Professor Balaji Padmanabhan also provides some thought-provoking ideas on personal bots during the job search process.