Kevin Li, class of 2019 marketing and information systems double major, writes about a critical thinking event with Deloitte on Oct. 23, 2017, at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. Freshmen at the Robert H. Smith School of Business constantly ask the question, “what skills do employers want me to master in college?” On Oct. 23, Deloitte professionals offered some insight by diving deep into one core competency that is desired by employers all around the world: critical thinking.

Lauren Black, class of 2019 accounting and information systems double major, writes about Finance Fellows Networking Night, held on Oct. 23, 2017, for students at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Dozens of student teams will take to the streets of Washington, D.C., in upcoming weeks as part of an Urban Challenge to “discover new things and experience the joy of that discovery.” Approximately 100 undergraduates at the University of Maryland's Robert H.

Danah N. Bourislee, class of 2018 international business and finance double major at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, writes about the Women in Business Association (WBA) trip to the Harvard International Business Conference, Oct. 20-21, 2017.

Four University of Maryland undergraduates once again represented the Robert H. Smith School of Business in an impressive – and winning – manner last week when they traveled to the University of Connecticut to compete in the 2017 CIBER Case Competition. The multi-day event combines students representing universities from around the world, placing them into teams of four to compete in analyzing and presenting an international business case to judges. Each four-student team is comprised of one student from an international business school and three students from different U.S. schools.

Students starting their careers should ask themselves three questions, Unilever North America President Kees Kruythoff said on Oct. 10, 2017, at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. “These individual discussions can help you discover your personal purpose,” Kruythoff said during a CEO @ Smith keynote address. “People with purpose, they thrive.” “Are you making a difference?” is the first question. Kruythoff said people can define impact in different ways. “But make sure you put a high ambition level in there,” he said.

The Quality Enhancement Systems and Teams (QUEST) Honors Program at the University of Maryland celebrated 25 years of continuous improvement with a spectacular anniversary gala on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, at The Hotel, the new luxury hotel and conference center at UMD. Attendees included more than 420 current students, alumni, faculty and staff, along with their families and friends.

Undergraduate students from the University of Maryland’s QUEST honors program took center stage on Oct. 7, 2017, as they pitched their ideas to a panel of IBM judges. In celebration of the program’s 25th anniversary, IBM partnered with Quality Enhancement Systems and Teams (QUEST) to introduce the monthlong design challenge.

The new standard of corporate sustainability goes way beyond complying with regulators and appeasing nonprofits. Business leaders today are being pushed to embed social and environmental impact into the value chain to drive performance and competitive advantage. The work is complicated and sometimes surprisingly challenging to articulate.

Lauren Black, class of 2019 accounting and information systems double major, writes about a business etiquette dinner, held on Oct. 3, 2017, at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. Photos are courtesy of Daniel Jenkins, class of 2018.