Equipping Business Leaders to Succeed in an Era of Rapid Digital Transformation
Business in a Digital World (BDW)
At the Opus College we aim to develop leaders who understand the enormous power and potential of emerging technologies in business and society and who can responsibly harness that power for the common good.
Digital transformation
The integration of digital technology into all aspects of an organization’s operations and strategy, in ways that deliver value for customers, has become a priority across business. Emergent technologies have an important role to play in driving business outcomes by deepening stakeholder insights, improving efficiencies and reducing costs, among other things.
At the Opus College we challenge students and working professionals to learn about these technologies, their application in business, and the consequences—both intended and unintended—of these solutions to humans and society.
Building, delivering, and integrating learning experiences that emphasize the leadership skills and competencies needed to deliver business in a digital world—responsibly—is paramount to an Opus College education.
Digital Transformation
Get ready to tackle digital transformation in your organization or industry by building the digital literacy, problem-solving and leadership skills required for the fourth industrial revolution.
Business Analytics
Put yourself in the heart of smarter problem solving by harnessing the power of data, a key building block for technology innovation.
Business in a Digital World Fellows
Gino Giovannelli
BDW Faculty Fellow
Lee Winbush
BDW Executive Fellow
Grant Riewe
BDW Executive Fellow
Kevin Quiring
BDW Executive Fellow
Learn more about Business in a Digital World
Gain insights into business in a digital world through dynamic discussions and expert presentations that feature case studies and leadership lessons from the St. Thomas network.
2022-2023 Topics and Speakers:
- "Join us in the Nth Floor: Accenture's Business use of Mixed Reality" with speaker Allison Horn, Accenture Executive Director Global Talent, moderator Lori B. Zumwinkle, Accenture Senior Managing Director and North America Retail Industry Lead & UST MBA Alumni, and Q&A Host Kathy Arnold VP and Chief Human Resources Officer at University of St Thomas.
- "Enter the Metaverse: A Journey to Demystify This Year's Buzziest Trend." with Lee Winbush, 3M, and moderated by St Thomas student Mellissa Ingabire and St Thomas Faculty Lisa Abendroth.
- "Digital Solutions Supporting Circular Economy" with Dr. Phil Brown, Circularise, & Dr. Jon Smieja, GreenBiz
Past Topics and Speakers:
- "Artificial Intelligence and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" with Elizabeth M. Adams, moderated by Professor Colleen Dorsey View the event webpage.
- "A Digital Renaissance:...a revival under the influence of classical models" with Shaun Braun, 3M, moderated by Lee Winbush, Adjunct Faculty at Opus, 3M View event webpage here
- "Life Reimagined: Mapping the motivations that matter for today’s consumers" with Kevin Quiring, Accenture
- "Digital Transformation in Traditional Industries"
- "Safeguarding our Tech-Enabled Future" with Ilana Lipsett, Institute for the Future
- "The Next Normal: What will our tech-enabled future hold?" with Julie Gilbert, McKinsey
- Ethics Leader Pushes for More Responsible Artificial Intelligence
- Virtual Reality Exposes Students to systemic Inequalities
- Brining the C-suite to the MBA Classroom
- Marketing Majors Devise Innovative Strategies for Local Emerging Tech Firms
- Continuous Curricular Innovation
- Using AI to Fight Human Bias at Work, Liz Melton and Grant Riewe
- What Is Omnichannel Strategy?, Craig Herkert
- How Would You Describe Digital Transformation and the Benefits to a Business?, Gino Giovanelli
- New Opus Initiative Aims to Robot-Proof Tommies, Lisa Abendroth
- Accenture Showcases Its Commitment to DEI (Diversity Equity & Inclusion) in the Metaverse
- Opus Students Collaborate with Target on Omnichannel Strategy
- Students Gain Real-world Skills Through Opus Tech Program
- Preparing Students to Be Future Business Leaders in a Digital World
- Experts Share How Blockchain Supports Circular Economy
- Enter the Metaverse
Podcasts:
- Klara and the Sun: A conversation about of the nature of intelligence and the cost (and benefits) of progress
- Charlie Kratsch, Infinite Campus, with Lisa Abendroth
- Social Dilemma, Work in Progress with Christopher Michaelson and Lisa Abendroth
- Don Ball, Fueled Collective with Rod Hagedorn
- Jon Pearce, Zipnosis with Dan McLaughlin
- In the Key of D, Gino Giovannelli
- Maria Burns Ortiz, 7 Generation Games with Kevin Henderson
- Yu Sunny Han, Fulcrum with Lisa Abendroth
- Jules Porter, Seraph 7 Studios with AnnMarie Thomas
- Angie Conley, Abilitech with Dan McLaughlin
Radio:
- Does our tech have a bias? - with BDW Executive Fellow Grant Riewe, WCCO Paul & Jordana Show
Corporate Fellows
Leslie Shannon
Head of Ecosystem and Trend Scouting, Nokia
Kevin Quiring
Managing Director, Global Customer Strategy, Accenture
Aaron Keller
Chief Marketing Officer, Co-Founder, Capsule
Mark Hansberry
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, HealthPartners
Aaron Mills
Digital Marketing Manager, 3M
Patricia Hambrick
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, The Hambrick Group
Michael Moore
Chief Retail Officer, Harry's
Meghan Kober
Assistant Vice President Fintech Acceleration and Innovation, US Bank
Claire Powell
Owner, Bella Virtu Organics
Carolina Bautista-Brown
Segment Marketing Senior Manager, 3M
Sharon Harris
Chief Marketing Officer, Jellyfish
Matt Majka
President, MN Wild
David Espindola
Founding Partner, Intercepting Horizons
Grant Riewe
Executive Advisor
Craig Herkert
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Save A Lot
Bryan Rogers
Managing Director, Propeller
Chap Achen
Vice President Supply Chain Operations, Nextuple
Jan Poeschl
Vice President of Supply Chain, Salt & Straw
Leona Lewis
Senior Counsel, Privacy and Operational Compliance, Thrasio
Scott Bolduc
Director of Supply Chain Strategy, SPS Commerce
Wes Whalberg
Sr. Director, Enterprise Engineering, Site Operations, & Construction, Best Buy