On Tuesday, November 9, 2025, Rutgers Master of Business and Science (MBS) students gathered virtually for the Externship Lightning Talks, a signature event of the Rutgers MBS Externship Exchange Program. Hosted via Zoom, the event welcomed externship students, faculty, staff members, advisors, and company mentors, all coming together to celebrate a semester of applied, real-world learning.
The evening opened with remarks from members of the Externship leadership team, including Dr. Karen Bemis, Assistant Director of Student Experience; Lori Dars, Senior Advisor for Externships; and Abbe Rosenthal, MA, PCC, Assistant Director of Corporate Engagement and DYL Coach. Their remarks were followed by introductions of MBS advisors and the Rutgers Externship Team, setting the stage for an evening focused on student achievement, mentorship, and collaboration.
What Is the Externship Exchange Program?
The Externship Exchange Program offers MBS students and Rutgers undergraduates hands-on, experiential learning through real, company-sponsored projects. Throughout the semester, students collaborate in interdisciplinary teams across fields relating to concentrations in the Master of Business and Science degree—including user experience design, cybersecurity, personal care science, product development, sustainability, and more.
Guided by MBS faculty advisors and mentors from the partner organization, externship teams tackle complex challenges that mirror real workplace environments. The Lightning Talks serve as the end-of-semester showcase, giving students the opportunity to present their work, reflect on their learning, and share insights with the broader MBS community. Externs also complete their semester by providing more detailed hand-off presentations to their mentors.
What Happens in a Lightning Talk?
Each team delivers a three- to five-minute lightning talk designed to clearly and concisely communicate their project. Presentations typically include team introductions, company and project overviews, problem statements, methodology, key findings, and professional takeaways.
This year’s event followed a structured agenda, consisting of two presentation sessions, separated by a short break and a voting period. Attendees voted for Best Slides and Best Overall Presentation, adding an interactive element to the evening.
Industry Partnerships and Mentor Support
This semester’s externships reflected the breadth and diversity of MBS industry partnerships, with projects sponsored by organizations such as PruTech, CGI, PSEG, PharmAllies, Givaudan, Colgate-Palmolive, TRI Princeton, and many others.
We thank all externship company mentors and staff advisors whose guidance and expertise helped students translate academic knowledge into professional impact.
Celebrating Student Achievement
The MBS Externship Exchange Program also recognizes the achievements of outstanding students. The evening concluded with the announcement of student awards, including the Externship Fellowship Awards, the Outstanding Team Lead Award, and the Team Lead Certificate of Achievement. The audience also had a chance to vote for teams with the best slides and the best overall presentation.
The Externship Lightning Talks highlighted not only the impressive work contributed by the students but also the value of experiential learning in fostering innovation, teamwork, and leadership. Congratulations to all externs for their exceptional work this semester! Many thanks to the MBS Externship team and our partners who dedicate their time and expertise to students.
The MBS Externship Exchange program is open to students during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. To learn more about externships, visit the MBS Externship Exchange program webpage or attend one of the program’s informational webinars.