LMU College of Business Administration

Our “People Behind the Programs” series continues with James Wagner, MBA, marketing lecturer. 📚 With decades of experience leading iconic brands at Mattel, MGA Entertainment, and Razor Worldwide, James brings the real world into the classroom through live case studies, from revitalizing Hot Wheels to launching L.O.L. Surprise into a global phenomenon. 🚀

His teaching is rooted in action. Students don’t just learn theories, they apply them to real scenarios, make decisions with imperfect information, and unpack what actually works when the stakes are high. James is especially proud of leading teams to achieve what once seemed impossible, emphasizing that true success comes from trust and teamwork. 👏

He challenges students to stay relentlessly curious, prioritize learning over titles, and develop the critical thinking and leadership skills needed to create clarity and confidence in any situation. We are fortunate to have such an industry powerhouse on our faculty!

Read the full Q&A with James at https://tinyurl.com/4w88ntay

✈️ Eleven LMU students recently traveled to South Korea and Mongolia as part of the "Global Sustainability in East Asia" course, led by Professors Junghoon Park and Yongsun Paik and sponsored by the Center for Asian Business. 🇰🇷🇲🇳

From visits to Kakao and TESO Group to exploring climate initiatives in Jeju and reforestation efforts on the Mongolian steppe, students examined how companies, government, and civil society approach sustainability.

Along the way, they immersed themselves in local cultures - staying overnight in a traditional ger, horseback riding across the Mongolian grasslands, exploring Seoul's historic landmarks, and hiking the volcanic landscapes of Jeju. 🌎

Because building a more sustainable future starts with understanding the world beyond your own backyard. 🌱

🏆🏆 They did it again! Our talented LMU M-School students swept the 2026 Effie Collegiate Brand Challenge, earning both first- and second-place honors in one of the nation's premier marketing competitions, sponsored by the Effie LIONS Foundation.

This marks the fourth time in five years that LMU has won the competition. 🎉 This year's challenge? Develop a campaign to help United Nations Association of the United States of America better connect with Gen Z audiences in the U.S.

Competing against universities from across the country, LMU teams claimed four of the six semifinalist spots and sent two finalist teams to New York City to pitch their ideas to industry leaders and UN marketing executives. 📣

First place went to Team The Human Race 🥇 featuring Cooper Bosland, Elias Herrera, Michael O’Grady, and Gianna Szyrko. Second-place honors went to Team UNCover 🥈 comprised of Gavin Bell, Maggie Brady, Isabelle Gonzalez, and Christian Sosa. The students were advised by Matt Stefl, Andy Rohm, Bernice Chao, and a team of industry mentors. Congratulations to all on this incredible achievement! Go Lions! 🦁

Read the full story at https://bit.ly/4e5zMag

🏆 Back-to-back champions! For the second year in a row, LMU students won first place at the Santa Clara University Business Pitch Competition. 🎉

Congrats to the CentIQ team - Josh Grady, Dayyan Chaudhri, and Sadie Scheiter (who was unable to attend the competition due to graduation commitments) - for their winning pitch. The team was supported by fellow LMU Incubator founder Samir Davis of The Hoop Gang and advised by Professor Jason D’Mello.

CentIQ, a gamified financial literacy platform, has built impressive momentum this year, also earning second place at the TCU Ventures and Values Competition. Competing against students from Jesuit universities across the country, the team impressed judges with their innovative approach to financial education and entrepreneurial vision. While in Silicon Valley, they also had the opportunity to visit Genentech and Intuitive.

Go Lions! 🦁

As part of our “People Behind the Programs” series, let's get to know Kelly Watson, Ph.D., clinical professor of management and managing partner at Orange Grove Consulting. With decades of leadership experience across corporate and academic spaces, Kelly brings the real world into the classroom by connecting theory to practice through powerful stories. 👏

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in rigor and trust in the process. Kelly challenges students to fully engage, put in the work, and embrace every opportunity to grow, emphasizing that what you get out of your education is directly tied to what you put in.

Through experiential learning and a passion for developing future leaders, Kelly creates an environment where lightbulb moments happen, and students are equipped to thrive in today’s competitive business world. In her free time, Kelly can be found on the field as a professional soccer referee. ⚽️

Read the full Q&A with Kelly at https://tinyurl.com/6uwkuzmn

🎉 Congratulations to students Andrew Presa ’27 and Josie Kranick ’28 on being elected to student government leadership for the 2026–27 academic year!

Andrew, a finance and information systems & business analytics double major, will serve as ASLMU President, while Josie, a marketing major, will serve as ASLMU Vice President.

We’re proud to see these students step into roles where they can make a meaningful impact on the student experience and help shape the future of LMU. Join us in congratulating Andrew and Josie on this incredible accomplishment! 👏🦁

Read more about their impressive backgrounds and plans for the year ahead at https://bit.ly/49HXdoW