College of Business Events

Student Engagement Fair

Curious about a student organization or academic program? Join the College of Business for this relaxed, career-fair-style event where you can explore real-world learning experiences, meet new people, and discover opportunities that fit your interests. Held at the beginning of both the fall and spring semesters, this event is open to all students.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

No RSVP is needed, so just show up ready to network!

View all COB Student Organizations

For Questions, contact Ashley Niss at ashley.niss.2@mnsu.edu or (507) 389-1018

How to Network in the Professional World

Session Description

Building a professional network takes more than an online profile and a handshake at a career fair. This session covers practical ways to make and keep meaningful business connections, including where to find the right rooms to be in and how to follow up in a way people remember.

Cost

It costs $15 to attend (free for students).
- Students must email Kim Watkins-RockVam to get a promo code.

Speaker

Scott McDonald, CFP and Board Director at Taylor Corporation

Learn more and register for the event

Maverick Bites and Insights: AI in Healthcare

AI in Healthcare: From Innovation to Impact

Maverick Bites and Insights is a monthly lunch and learn from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

A panel disscusion featuring:

AI in Healthcare Registration

Meet the Firms

Meet the Firm is the premier career fair for Accounting and Finance majors at Minnesota State University, Mankato! Students of all majors and years are invited to attend to learn about internships, short-term summer experiences, full-time jobs, and the fields of accounting and finance.

Join us to connect with banks, government agencies, financial planning firms, small, mid-sized, and big four public accounting firms and other companies that hire accounting and finance majors.

Student Registration

Employer Registration

QuickBooks Basics

Session Description

New to QuickBooks or still figuring out what it can do? This session walks through the fundamentals of setting up and using the software day to day, from organizing your accounts to recording income and expenses. Bring your questions and leave with a clearer picture of where to start.

Cost

It costs $15 to attend (free for students).
- Students must email Kim Watkins-RockVam to get a promo code.

Speaker

Tamara Dahlvangg, Owner of Small Business Dreambuilders LLC

Learn more and register for the event

Richard and Mary Schmitz Leadership and Innovation Series - AI Part II

Emerging AI Series - Part II

Featuring Lin Chase

Emerging AI Series Registration

Federated Day

Join representatives from Federated Insurance for Federated Day, a day packed with networking, skill building, prizes, and fun! Whether you're curious about the insurance industry, looking for an internship, or ready to launch your career, don't miss Federated Day! All students, from all majors are invited to attend.

Event schedule

(Attend any or all of the following events)

Career Prep Express

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. | CSU Ballroom North
Meet with a Federated Insurance representative for resume feedback, a mock interview, or to practice your elevator pitch. Drop in as your schedule allows!

Employer in Residence

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Outside CDC (Wigley 209)
Learn about Federated company culture and opportunities!

Alumni Panel

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | CSU Ballroom North
Hear from a panel of successful MSU graduates currently working at Federated Insurance. Bring your questions about everything from resumes, internships, skills to build, interviews, negotiating offers, entry-level jobs, diverse career paths in the insurance industry, and more!

Fed Day Fun Night

4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Maverick Bullpen (lower level of CSU)
Join Federated representatives for a fun night of bowling, billiards, free food, awesome prizes, great company, and career building!

Questions?

Call (507) 389-2963 or email cobinternships@mnsu.edu

Minnesota Paid Leave from the Employer's Perspective

Session Description

Minnesota Paid Leave affects employers of nearly every size. This session looks at the program through an employer lens, covering what the requirements mean for your business, what you will need to have in place and where to go with questions specific to your situation.

Cost

It costs $15 to attend (free for students).
- Students must email Kim Watkins-RockVam to get a promo code.

Speaker

Rovena Claxton, Principal of North Shore Human Resource Consulting

Learn more and register for the event

Maverick Bites and Insights: Powering the Future of Manufacturing

Powering the Future of Manufacturing

Maverick Bites and Insights is a monthly lunch and learn from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

A panel disscusion featuring Nidec leaders.

Powering the Future of Manufacturing Registration

Tomorrow's Advisor Conference

The conference brings together Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) leaders, financial planning professionals, alumni, faculty, and students with a shared purpose: connecting Today’s Leaders with Tomorrow’s Financial Planning Professionals.

This event provides a unique opportunity to collaborate, network, and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of the financial planning profession. Through the exchange of ideas, experiences, and insights, we aim to strengthen the talent pipeline and foster the next generation of financial planning leaders.

Learn More and Register on Handshake

Featured Topics Include:

Bridging the Talent Gap You are invited to a collaborative dialogue between Minnesota State University, Mankato's Financial Planning Program and RIA leaders on building the next generation of financial planners.
Career Opportunities in the RIA Landscape Please attend an engaging lunch panel featuring MSU Financial Planning alumni sharing insights on career paths, professional growth, and opportunities within the RIA industry.
Student and Industry Networking Dedicated time for meaningful conversations between students and firm leaders to explore mentorship, internship, and career opportunities. Please feel free to participate!

Sponsored By: Minnesota State University, Mankato Financial Planning Program

Banking Bridges: Stacking Benjamins

A banking-focused take on a monthly financial series.

Richard and Mary Schmitz Leadership and Innovation Series - AI Part III

Emerging AI Series - Part III

Featuring Rajeev Bukralia

Emerging AI Series Registration

Leadership Summit

Join the College of Business for the annual Leadership Summit, hosted by the COB Henze Student Executive Team (SET). Gain valuable career insight from business leaders through a panel discussion, keynote address, and networking. Refreshments provided. All students welcome. Contact set@mnsu.edu with any questions.

Crafting Communications That Move People

Session Description

Great communication does more than share information. It creates understanding, builds trust and inspires people to act. For entrepreneurs, the ability to communicate clearly and authentically can make the difference between an idea that gets overlooked and one that earns attention, support and momentum.

Join Jennifer Spaude, Founder and CEO of Spaude Consulting, for a practical and engaging session on how entrepreneurs, students and emerging leaders can communicate with greater impact. You’ll learn how clarity, consistency and authenticity strengthen every message; how to understand and adapt to different audiences; and how to tell stories that make information memorable and meaningful.

The session will also explore how AI can help generate ideas, sharpen messages and improve efficiency while reinforcing that technology is an amplifier, not a replacement for human judgment, experience and authentic connection.

Cost

It costs $15 to attend (free for students).
- Students must email Kim Watkins-RockVam to get a promo code.

Speaker

Jennifer Spaude, Founder and CEO of Spaude Consulting

Learn more and register for the event

Marketing Beyond Social Media

Session Description

Social media and an online storefront are only part of a marketing strategy. This session looks at the other channels available to small businesses, how to think about reaching customers who are not scrolling and how the pieces of a marketing plan work together.

Cost

It costs $15 to attend (free for students).
- Students must email Kim Watkins-RockVam to get a promo code.

Speaker

Hannah Bretz, South Central Acting Regional Director of the Small Business Developing Center

Learn more and register for the event

Big Ideas Challenge

Live pitch event!

Maverick Bites and Insights: Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Maverick Bites and Insights is a monthly lunch and learn from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Registration

Cybersecurity Basics for Small Businesses

Session Description

Small businesses are a common target precisely because they often have fewer protections in place. This session covers the fundamentals of keeping your business information secure, the risks worth knowing about and practical steps you can take without a technical background.

Cost

It costs $15 to attend (free for students).
- Students must email Kim Watkins-RockVam to get a promo code.

Speaker

Bryan Hoffman, Director of IT, College of Business

Learn more and register for the event

Business Succession Planning

Session Description

Every business owner eventually steps away, and planning ahead protects what you have built. This session covers the questions to start asking now, the options available for transitioning ownership and why the earliest stages of planning matter most.

Cost

It costs $15 to attend (free for students).
- Students must email Kim Watkins-RockVam to get a promo code.

Speaker

Matt Lessard

Learn more and register for the event

Maverick Bites and Insights: Engineering Water for the Future

Engineering Water for the Future: Balancing Growth, Agriculture and Sustanability

Maverick Bites and Insights is a monthly lunch and learn from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

A disscusion featuring Chuck Brandel with ISG.

Maverick Bites and Insights: Beyond the Farm

Beyond the Farm: The Business of Agriculture

Maverick Bites and Insights is a monthly lunch and learn from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

A panel disscusion featuring CHS leaders.

Maverick Bites and Insights: Students' Perspective on AI and Technology

Students' Perspective on AI and Technology

Maverick Bites and Insights is a monthly lunch and learn from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Please note the time change for this event.

A conversation with students taking MGMT 459: Management Information Systems with Bryan Hoffman.