The Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree’s Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) is one of the most valuable resources available to students in our program. Comprising experienced STEM professionals across a wide range of industries, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, R&D, product development, media and television, consumer goods, and the energy sector, the IAB helps connect our students with experts in nearly every field relating to our concentrations.
On March 19th, following our Day of Learning, we hosted a special mixer that brought together IAB members, MBS alumni, and current students.
One of the evening’s highlights was a candid and motivating conversation between Kathleen Cashman-Walter, PSM Executive Coach and Professor of our Communication and Leadership course, and Craig Moran, an MBS alum (Class of 2017, Data Analytics concentration) and current Account Executive at Pure Storage.
Moran shared the twists and turns of his career journey, highlighting a pivotal moment in 2023 when a layoff completely reshaped his approach to networking. “I will talk to anyone about any job,” he said, reflecting on how that mindset led to an opportunity he discovered at a previous IAB mixer.
His experience wasn’t unique: many MBS students and alumni have found new roles and career leads through events like our IAB mixer. Moran’s story underscored the real power of the MBS community and the lasting value of staying connected, even after graduation.
Moran also encouraged students to step outside their comfort zone. His experience perfectly reflects the mission of the MBS degree: to empower students with a unique blend of science and business skills so they can confidently pursue their desired roles.
The conversation then shifted to a topic on everyone’s minds: artificial intelligence (AI). AI is already transforming our careers, said Moran, predicting how it will continue to shape the future of work.
Students shared how they’re using AI tools for tasks like preliminary research, patent searching, and workflow optimization.
Moran emphasized that AI is not here to replace you. Instead, it’s here to enhance you. AI can make you a super-professional, as it frees up time so you can focus on what really matters. Therefore, learning how to use it effectively is crucial.
Professor Cashman-Walter followed up by discussing LinkedIn’s list of top skills for 2025, with AI Literacy right at the top. She again stressed the importance of building familiarity and fluency with these tools.
As a Rutgers student, you have free access to LinkedIn Learning, a rich platform for skill development across many domains, including AI. Many of the courses offer certifications that you can directly add to your LinkedIn profile to showcase your capabilities. In fact, Rutgers IT has curated a collection of AI-focused courses specifically designed to help you build your AI literacy and stay future-ready.
The evening wrapped up with students exchanging stories, ideas, and contact information. It was more than just a networking event but also a space for long-lasting relationships that could open doors to other opportunities.
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