“Enthusiastically go after every single day.” This was the message of BB&T Chairman and CEO Kelly King’s Nov. 6 CEO@Smith presentation at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. “Passion causes us to give it our all. Be passionate and purposeful about life – you can make a difference.”

For years, much of the American conversation about the Middle East has revolved around stories of violence, religious conflict, and political turmoil. Chris Schroeder, on the other hand, is intent on shedding light on a burgeoning trend in the region that receives far less media attention: entrepreneurship.

Wellford Dillard, MBA ’97, has a track record of turning around struggling companies. Today he’s using his financial expertise in a company that helps sick people get well. 

“You can market and create good at the same time,” Elysa Hammond said to an attentive crowd at the Smith School’s fifth annual Social Enterprise Symposium on March 1, 2013. “Business has been part of the problems we are facing today, and business needs to be part of the solution.” 

Samuel Blum ’13 is one lucky dog. He’s hitting the road this year as one of 12 Oscar Mayer Hotdoggers, driving the company’s iconic Wienermobile from sea to shining sea. 

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is the Smith School’s hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. Activities are focused on building a community of entrepreneurs – and that goal extends well beyond the Smith School to students, faculty and staff across campus; alumni; and entrepreneurs throughout the region.

Six Tips to Help Get What You Want Negotiation is crucial for your career. Wages and promotions aren’t like grades awarded on merit. If you want a raise, you have to persuade someone to give it to you.

Associate Professor Brent Goldfarb’s research indicated that mere business plans don’t help entrepreneurs looking for venture funding. So he ditched the curriculum in his business plan course. Instead, his MBA students start and run a real business--in just seven weeks.

This summer, Smith joined the ranks of other LEADing business schools. From July 14 to Aug. 1, the Smith School hosted the first Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) program, bringing 30 minority students from across the nation to Van Munching Hall to learn more about business. The program was designed to increase the number of underrepresented minority students who graduate with a business degree.

Smith's Center for Health Information and Decision Systems (CHIDS) sponsored an interdisciplinary UMD team in capturing first place in the 2013 American Public Health Association's (APHA) Codeathon aimed at helping to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA).