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Our recently attended the , hosted by the Yale School of Management. About 25 University of New Haven students participated, joining professionals and students from across the region for discussions about the future of marketing, consumer behavior, branding, analytics, and artificial intelligence.

It was an opportunity for our students to hear directly from leaders connected to companies such as Google, TikTok, Spotify, and other major brands that are shaping the future of the marketing industry.

Experiences such as this this matter because marketing is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence influences almost every aspect of the field, from advertising and customer insights to content creation, analytics, and strategy. Students need to understand these tools.

At the same time, one of the most important lessons from the conference was that human skills are becoming even more valuable in the AI era.

Technology can help marketers work faster and analyze information more efficiently, but creativity, communication, leadership, teamwork, and understanding people remain at the center of successful marketing. Those are skills students develop not only in the classroom, but also through experiences that challenge them to engage professionally and think critically.

There are many reasons I strongly encourage students to become involved in organizations such as our Marketing Club.

The club creates opportunities for students to grow outside of class. They meet other students, connect with faculty, attend professional events, and begin exploring career possibilities in informal and supportive environments. Confidence develops over time through participation, conversations, and exposure to real-world experiences.

"We want students to learn not only in the classroom, but from the world around them." Subroto Roy, Ph.D.

Over the last few years, attending conferences, such as the one at Yale has created some of the most valuable opportunities for our students. Earlier this academic year, students also attended the Association of National Advertisers conference at Yale. Because the University of New Haven is located so close to Yale, our students are able to benefit from access to major events that feature top executives and industry professionals.

Faculty relationships and professional connections also help us create these experiences for students. One of my goals as a professor is to ensure students graduate with more than theoretical knowledge. I want them to understand what the industry actually looks and feels like before they begin their careers.

That is why experiential learning is such an important part of marketing education at the University of New Haven.

I greatly appreciate that these opportunities are made accessible to students through the support of the Pompea College of Business and the Yale School of Management. Students were able to attend the conference without having to pay additional costs themselves, which made participation possible for many students who otherwise may not have had the opportunity.

What stood out to me most during the conference was seeing our students engage confidently with professionals. They asked thoughtful questions, discussed ideas about AI and branding, and began to see themselves as future marketing professionals.

For prospective students considering a major in marketing, I often talk to them about how opportunities outside of the classroom are an important part of the University of New Haven experience. Marketing is a field that combines creativity, business strategy, technology, psychology, analytics, and communication. It offers many possible career paths, especially for students who are curious, adaptable, and willing to get involved.

The Marketing Club is already looking forward to returning to the Yale InsightsOn Conference in May 2027, and I hope many of our future students will join us.

At the University of New Haven, we want students to learn not only in the classroom, but from the world around them. In a field evolving as quickly as marketing, those experiences can make all the difference.