On Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7, 2024, the Metropolitan College Department of Administrative Sciences hosted the second annual Boston University Symposium on Entrepreneurship & Technology. Titled \u201cThe Paradigm Shift: Exploring Entrepreneurship in the Next Generation,\u201d the event gathered business leaders, academics, and students for what Department of Administrative Sciences Chair Irena Vodenska, in her introductory remarks, called \u201ca platform to exchange ideas. \u201c<\/p>\n
An academic exploration of the evolving global landscape, papers, and presentations would touch on themes that include the transformative role of AI in entrepreneurship, enterprise management strategies, sustainable entrepreneurship, and empowering women in entrepreneurship, among others. With a high degree of international participation, there were a total of 56 abstracts submitted from 34 different institutions representing 11 countries\u2014Canada, Greece, India, Iran, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and the United States. Of the 45 papers accepted for presentations, 23 came from the Boston University community.As the event commenced, Professor Vodenska laid out the symposium\u2019s three pillars: empowerment through knowledge, collaboration across disciplines, and commitment to impact. These values, she explained, reflect the degree programs within the Department of Administrative Sciences, which put on the event. \u201cWe\u2019re preparing students, professionals, and innovators to be trailblazers who don\u2019t just adapt to change, but drive it,\u201d she said. \u201cI challenge each of you to aim high, think big, and take bold steps forward. As entrepreneurs and technologists, you hold the power to create solutions that are not just for the present, but for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Metropolitan College Dean Tanya Zlateva welcomed attendees and introduced the keynote speaker, exemplary MET alum S.D. Shibulal (MET\u201988), who Dean Zlatava called \u201ca legend in the technology industry,\u201d owing to his standing as one of the seven software engineers who, in 1981, founded Infosys, a multinational corporation providing business consulting, information technology, and outsourcing services. In addition to leading the organization in various capacities, including as CEO and managing director from 2011 to 2014, during which Infosys enhanced its global footprint and expanded its service offerings, Shibulal played a crucial role in developing the Global Delivery Model, which revolutionized the delivery of outsourced IT services.<\/p>\n
Dean Zlateva explained that the company\u2019s initial capital was a mere $250\u2014a humble beginning for an organization that boasted $19 billion in revenue and 320,000 employees worldwide in 2024. Shibulal was instrumental to this growth, and when it was time for his next act, he founded a new organization, Axilor Ventures. Today, Axilor Ventures supports early-stage startups through funding, acceleration, and incubation and, with a portfolio of more than 100 companies, is one of India\u2019s most active seed funds.<\/p>\n
Also a member of the BU Board of Trustees as \u00a0well as the Metropolitan College Dean\u2019s Advisory Board; for all his achievements, Dean Zlateva said that what is most laudable about Shibulal is his empathy and attentiveness. \u201cHere is someone who has the attention of the leaders of industry, high government officials, and heads of state, but will spend hours talking to young students who struggle to adapt to college life in a foreign country, who would generously provide scholarships for children of the poorest families, and do it in a way to encourage hard work and develop high expectations\u2014so, not a handout, but a hand to the future,\u201d she praised.<\/p>\n
Telecommuting from India, Shibulal began his address with warm recollections of MET as a \u201cplace that holds so many cherished memories.\u201d He also noted how much the technology space has changed since his 1988 graduation. His journey through the modern history of technology, he explained, \u201chas been one of transformation, adoption, and discovery, shaped by the rapid evolution of computing.\u201d<\/p>\n
What began with refrigerator-sized computers reached a new plateau with the 1994 launch of the web browser Netscape, which Shibulal called the beginning of a \u201cnew frontier\u201d in computing, as his work evolved from simply organizing data to managing information in real time, and as systems went from closed environments to the expansiveness of the internet. When ecommerce emerged, Shibulal was there, leading its development at Sun Microsystems. \u201cThis platform allowed customers to place orders online, offering unprecedented insights into consumer behavior in real time,\u201d he explained, paving the way for modern customer-centric businesses like Amazon and Uber.<\/p>\n
Technology has come a long way, he explained, helping to \u201cenhance safety, reduce errors, and improve convenience.\u201d Now, he suggested, a new era in human technology is emergent\u2014an \u201cintelligence age,\u201d where automated functions will become active participants in our lives, shaping decisions and outcomes. Shibulal described that the new technology economy of this artificial intelligence age is one that will deemphasize products and services to rather shift to experiences, providing Tesla as an example of a company that was putting the needs of its customers at the forefront.<\/p>\n
Shibulal\u2019s next key point was that entrepreneurial efforts must consider more than just profits but balance them with purpose. \u201cAs we embrace these technologies, we must remember that progress isn\u2019t solely about economic gains\u2014it\u2019s about fostering sustainable well-being for all,\u201d he said. Indeed, Shibulal\u2019s Axilor Ventures participates in this sphere, seed-funding companies that leverage AI towards early, non-invasive breast cancer detection as well as the development of personalized probiotics.<\/p>\n
Shibulal’s next point was the emergence of digital public infrastructure, particularly in India, where the United Payment Interface (UPI) has \u201crevolutionized financial transactions, making digital payments accessible to everyone from urban entrepreneurs to rural artisans.\u201d He noted that in 2024 alone, UPI facilitated 13 billion transactions each month, transforming the country\u2019s daily economy.<\/p>\n
Shibulal made a point to underscore the importance of integrity and empathy among entrepreneurial leaders. \u201cAs budding entrepreneurs, you stand on the threshold of limitless possibilities,\u201d he said. \u201cBut with great opportunity comes great responsibility.\u201d Infosys, he explained, was founded with a strong commitment to fairness and ethics. \u201cIntegrity ensures that you remain true to your values, building trust with your customers and employees, and stakeholders,\u201d he said. \u201cEmpathy allows you to understand the needs and aspirations of others, leading to solutions that genuinely improve lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally, Shibulal sought to underscore the need for developing AI literacy in the public through investment. \u201cThe intelligence age offers tools and opportunities that previous generations could only dream of. But technology in isolation is not the answer,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s how we apply it\u2014ethically, responsibly, and inclusively\u2014that will define our legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following Friday\u2019s lunch break, the Symposium\u2019s Entrepreneurship and Technology Panel was assembled to share insights gleaned from successful careers in enterprise. Moderated by Ralph H. Groce III (CGS, Questrom, MET), who chairs the Metropolitan College Dean\u2019s Advisory Board and is a member of the Boston University Advisory Board, the panel was a retinue of builders of industry whose diverse experiences were bonded by common challenges. As they described, each made tremendous sacrifices, staved off loneliness and doubt, and conquered uncertainty en route to their successes.<\/p>\n
Groce, who today serves as president and chief operating officer for Scroobious, a startup initiative focused on creating equitable access to investment capital, marveled at the talent assembled, and could only wonder where he\u2019d be today had he made their acquaintances in decades previous. \u201cI wish I had met \u00a0you all 20 years ago,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n
As the executive director of Innovate@BU, BU\u2019s initiative to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among students, Siobhan Dullea (CAS\u201991) brought more than 15 years\u2019 worth of experience in the C-suite to the proceedings. Before joining Innovate@BU, she was the president and CEO of MassChallenge, a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators, where she played a significant role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, helping startups secure over $9 billion in funding and creating numerous jobs. In her experience, \u201cirrational optimism\u201d was a common thread among successful entrepreneurs. That, and the grit to persevere when launching one\u2019s own business, proves to be a trial. \u201cEven though it\u2019s really hard, it\u2019s worth it,\u201d Dullea said of the personal sacrifices she\u2019s made. \u201cSome of those challenging times get you to where you\u2019re meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
A member of the Metropolitan College Dean\u2019s Advisory Board, Steve Akers (MET\u201994) always wanted to own his own company. Having now founded or cofounded four different companies to date, today Akers is president and CEO of MaxCogito, Inc., a company that builds products that leverage blockchain and other technologies utilizing cryptography to allow customers to securely exchange data between counterparties to financial transactions. To the budding entrepreneurs in attendance, Akers advocated for getting early career experience at a company you do not found, before striking out on one\u2019s own, to learn key lessons while making a living \u201con someone else\u2019s dime,\u201d he recommended with a grin. Not only does this reduce risk, it also helps develop vital networks which are essential to professional success. The aid of others was a recurring theme in Akers\u2019 remarks\u2014he suggested it was wise to get into business with people with whom you have experience, and savored memories of fighting through adversity with others he trusts at his side.<\/p>\n
Tanya Bakalov, the founder and CEO of HelloTeam, a modern employee engagement and performance management platform, did not emigrate to the United States from Bulgaria with designs to be an entrepreneur. She thought she\u2019d be an accountant. But after her husband developed software with the power to monitor large financial institutions, the two struck out on their own, seeking funding to grow. This proved a challenge\u2014particularly since the pair were married, drawing skepticism from investors\u2014but eventually found success before ultimately being acquired by Bain Capital. This acquisition not only benefited \u00a0Bakalov and her husband, but the company\u2019s employees. When she took this experience to launch her own venture, Bakalov was disappointed to learn that her successes did not earn her greater trust from venture capitalists, who this time wondered why she was not partnered with her husband. Eventually, she was put in contact with the right funder, and today HelloTeam is redefining the way companies engage and retain top talent. For her, the key was having a team at her side she could rely on. \u201cSurround yourself with people you trust, that you want to spend time with,\u201d she advised.<\/p>\n
Snejina Zacharia is the founder and CEO of Insurify, America\u2019s top-rated virtual insurance agent. The company got its start 11 years ago, after a personal experience put Zacharia in contact with the difficulties of the insurance market. \u201cI had to experience firsthand how fragmented and dysfunctional insurance shopping once was,\u201d she said. Under her leadership, Insurify took the Kayak model of commerce and applied it to insurance, simplifying the process, adding transparency, and increasing ease of use. Today, it has redefined how consumers compare, purchase, and manage insurance policies and serves over 60 million quotes annually while facilitating $300 billion in insurance coverage. Zacharia echoed Mr. Akers\u2019 sentiments about the wisdom of working for someone else before venturing out on one\u2019s own. That\u2019s the path she took, working in software before pursuing an MBA with the expressed intention of launching a business upon completion. Reflecting back, she advised that young entrepreneurs take advantage of accelerator programs like MassChallenge and TechStars, to develop audiences and networks. \u201cYou need the community,\u201d she said. \u201cYou think you have it all figured out\u2014you have no idea how much you don\u2019t know when you\u2019re starting a business.\u201d<\/p>\n
The panel agreed that artificial intelligence has the power to amplify business opportunities. \u201cIt\u2019s a great tool; it saves a lot of typing,\u201d Akers said.<\/p>\n
Dullea attested to the ways she sees students leveraging the tool, saying, \u201cAI is part of everything they are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Zacharia, AI is a fundamental component of her business. At Insurify, it is used in everything from quotes to calculations and, increasingly, as a chat feature. She sees it as an instrument to increase transparency for consumers. \u201cSo many people don\u2019t know what is in the small print in their policies,\u201d she explained. But with narrative AI, they can upload their policies and get answers to important questions.<\/p>\n
Bakalov has a long history working in what we now think of as AI, having been a part of the team that worked with Apple during the development and rollout of its Siri feature. Now, working in the HR space, she is much more aware of the legal restrictions on uses for automation, providing an example of an effort her company made to develop tools that could gather the information necessary to conduct a layoff. This could pose a legal liability, however, as regulations prevent the use of AI in such an instance.<\/p>\n
In all, the Entrepreneurship and Technology Panel concurred that the budding entrepreneurs in the audience had a great deal of inspiring work ahead of them.<\/p>\n
By Saturday, after two full days of programming, the time came for the Symposium co-chair, Dr. Marcus Goncalves, to wind down the affair with closing remarks that reflected on the major themes of the proceedings. The first theme identified was sustainability, which he called \u201cno longer optional, [but] essential for long-term prosperity and survival.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next, Dr. Goncalves underscored the transformative power of artificial intelligence, which has redefined industries at a rapid clip. However, as he and other speakers pointed out, AI alone cannot drive prosperity unless properly deployed. \u201cAs we integrate AI into our businesses and lives, we are reminded of the need to wield it ethically, inclusively, and with human-centered design at the forefront,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The last major theme of the conference was gender inclusion in driving progress. \u201cWe must commit to creating ecosystems where women and underrepresented groups are not just included but celebrated as leaders and changemakers,\u201d Dr. Goncalves said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Goncalves then quoted the words of pioneering entrepreneur and activist Anita Roddick, who once said, “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.”<\/p>\n
To conclude the Symposium, Dr. Goncalves issued a vital reminder, saying, \u201cEach of us here, no matter the scale of our work, holds the potential to drive change. Let us leave today inspired to create businesses and technologies that are sustainable, inclusive, and visionary.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The second annual Symposium on Entrepreneurship & Technology, \u201cThe Paradigm Shift: Exploring Entrepreneurship in the Next Generation,\u201d gathered business leaders, academics, and students. Read on for a thorough accounting of the proceedings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19676,"featured_media":91456,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[88,208,51,129,231,39,37,249],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91453"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91453"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91457,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91453\/revisions\/91457"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}