The Rutgers Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree program recently hosted its Spring 2026 Externship Lightning Talk Presentations, a signature event of the Rutgers MBS Externship Program, held virtually via Zoom on April 21 and April 28, 2026. With over 300 participants in attendance, the event brought together students, faculty, mentors, and industry partners to celebrate a semester of collaboration, innovation, and real-world impact.
The evening opened with remarks from members of the Externship leadership team, including Lori Dars, senior advisor for externships; Abbe Rosenthal, MA, PCC, assistant director of corporate engagement and DYL coach; Suzanne Williams, externship operations coordinator; and Emma Leary, MBS program coordinator and advisor. 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 MBS Externship Program?
The MBS Externship Program provides students with hands-on, experiential learning through multidisciplinary projects across STEM and business fields. Working in small, collaborative teams, students address real-world challenges under the guidance of both Rutgers faculty and external industry mentors. Since its launch, the program has engaged 227 partner organizations, supported more than 3,200 student participants, and contributed over 448,000 student training hours.
The lightning talks gave students the opportunity to deliver concise, “elevator-pitch” style presentations summarizing their projects, key insights, outcomes, and professional takeaways. Each presentation highlighted the technical work completed as well as the teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills developed throughout the semester.
What Happens in a Lightning Talk?
Each team delivered a brief three- to five-minute presentation designed to give an overview of their project. Presentations included team introductions, the team’s partner organization, project summary, problem statements, methodology, key findings, and professional takeaways.
This year’s event followed a structured format with two presentation sessions, a short break, and a voting period. Attendees had the opportunity to vote for Best Slides and Best Overall Presentation, adding an interactive and engaging element to the evening.
Industry Partnerships and Mentor Support
This semester’s externship projects reflected the breadth of MBS industry partnerships, with students working on projects sponsored by organizations such as Colgate, PharmAllies, CGI, Ingredion, Hugo Neu, Wall Street and Maritime Risk Bootcamp, and many others.
We extend our appreciation to all company mentors, staff advisors, and program supporters whose guidance helped students apply classroom learning to real-world challenges and create meaningful professional impact.
Student Success and Celebrations
The Spring 2026 Lightning Talks highlighted the value of hands-on, interdisciplinary learning in strengthening students' technical, analytical, and communication skills. Across presentations, students demonstrated thoughtful problem-solving, teamwork, and the ability to translate complex project work into quick, clear, and concise insights.
Congratulations to all award winners for their outstanding presentations and well-deserved recognition. As the program continues to grow, it remains a defining part of the MBS experience, bridging classroom learning with industry practice and helping students build the confidence and perspective needed to succeed in today’s evolving workforce.
The MBS Externship program is open to students during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. To learn more about externships, visit the MBS Externship program webpage or attend one of the program’s informational webinars.