Gies College of Business Dean Brooke Elliott discussed the College's commitment to "Business on Purpose" and how it's shaping the future of business education in a recent appearance on the WealthTech on Deck podcast. Hosted by Jack Sharry, EVP and Chief Growth Officer of SEI LifeYield, the podcast focuses on “defining the future of wealth management and financial technology” with an emphasis on leadership and authenticity.

Elliott explained that Gies Business’ "Business on Purpose" brand means, in part, preparing leaders to have a positive impact on their communities and the world.

"We want to create amazing leaders who move into business and really have an impact on their community, on their state, and their nation," Elliott said.

This mission is woven throughout the curriculum, with a focus on experiential learning and opportunities for learners to explore their passions. One example is a course called Business 401: Crafting Your Purpose, where students identify a purpose project in their community and use their skills to make a difference.

"It's amazing to see how proud the students are of the impact that they're able to make," Elliott said. [Students and alumni] are so glad that we're talking about purpose and impact with our students when they're 18 to 22 years old."

Elliott also highlighted the college's rapidly growing online programs, which have expanded access to high-quality education for learners all over the world.

"We serve individuals who traditionally wouldn't have been able to pursue a graduate business degree from other top institutions," she said. "We have farmers, we have active-duty military. We've had an individual who is in Cirque du Soleil. We have entrepreneurs. We serve individuals from all types of different backgrounds, and so it's diversity in its very broadest sense. [Different] lived experiences create such a rich learning environment. Those programs have been so amazing."

Gies Business has also been a leader in adopting new technologies, such as artificial intelligence. Elliott herself has a fully digital avatar that can speak any language.

"I have a southern accent, and so my digital avatar speaks Mandarin in a southern accent. I mean it, it really blows your mind,” she said.

"The intellectual property is still that of the human," she said. "American academic institutions continue to be at the top. We attract some of the best minds and the greatest scholars from all around the world. And not only do they have an understanding of content, but they also know how to bring different pieces of information together. The greatest faculty members are taking that and then teaching students how to apply that in different disciplines or to different scenarios. AI may allow me to reach more learners because my avatar can be in multiple places at exactly the same time, but what is driving and fueling the avatar still is uniquely a human element.”

Elliott emphasized the importance of authenticity in creating a safe and engaging learning environment. "Being able to be vulnerable and be your authentic self, that's the first step to learning," she said. "It's also the first step to fun."

Looking ahead, Elliott is excited to continue pushing the boundaries of business education.

"We have to think about learning in a different way," she said. "We have to think about who we serve in a different way. It's not just 18-to 22-year-olds. There are a lot of individuals in the workforce who seek education, who really need that education and research. So it's thinking about, how can we leverage all that we know about developing and delivering education, creating rich and safe learning environments and providing it. Our land grant mission isn’t providing “four-year credit-bearing degrees” to all who desire it; it's providing education to all who are desire it and are committed to pursuing it. And so I think it's just really living out what that land grant mission was intended to be."

Elliott's passion for business education and her commitment to innovation are evident in everything she does. Her work at Gies is ensuring that students are prepared to be leaders who make a positive impact on the world.