Smith's Got Talent

Smith's Got Talent

by UMD Smith School of Business
Season 1
Transforming Campus Life: Aiden Polinsky on Campus AI and the Future of Higher Education
In this episode, 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.
Brute Force, The Hero or Storyteller: Blending the theory and practice of leadership! (M&O)
In this episode, we explore the innovative leadership class co-taught by Dr. 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.
Emotional AI turns a side hustle into true entrepreneurship (Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship)
This episode features 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."
“AI implications to privacy and ethical data usage (MBA)”
In this episode, we talk with Victor Su and Professor Mary Beth to discuss the integration of AI in business ethics and case studies, focusing on Victor's involvement in the Fisher Case Competition with Bath and Body Works. They explore how AI can be used responsibly to enhance business models, emphasizing ethical data usage and strategic innovation. They delve into the challenges and learning experiences faced during the competition, highlighting the importance of teamwork and diverse perspectives in tackling complex business problems. Professor Balaji Padmanabhan discusses ethics in AI implementation.
Rating the effectiveness of bank and fintech company credit risk management capabilities (MQF/MFIN/SERC)
In this episode, 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.
Tackling excess and obsolete inventory in the fresh produce industry (Supply Chain)
In this episode, 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.
Leveraging AI to make the talent acquisition process more cost-effective (MSIS)
In this episode, 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.