NEIU International Business Conference 2024

March 4

Join the College of Business and Technology for this premier annual event that brings together international professionals, consulates and business students. Learn about business on an international scale, network with students and professionals from the U.S. and abroad, and increase your knowledge and understanding of our diverse world.

When: 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. March 4, 2024
Where: Main Campus, Alumni Hall 
Contact: College of Business and Technology, cbt-do@neiu.edu

Sign Up to Attend

Who We Are

The International Business Conference aims to bring in international professionals, international consulates, and business students from across the Chicago area. The conference gives an opportunity for students to learn about business on an international scale, network with students and professionals from the U.S. and abroad, and increase their knowledge and understanding of our diverse world.

This Year

For another edition of the International Business Conference, we embrace diversity and become inclusive of different topics, cultures, industries and industry leading speakers. This year’s presentation topics will focus on the new decade ahead and what type of world we’ll be facing within the next 10 years. Our conference is committed to promoting diversity. Northeastern is ranked the most diverse university in the Midwest by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Ranking.

Agenda

Time Location Speaker Title
11:00 - 11:30 a.m.  Alumni Hall Dr. Michael Bedell Dean, NEIU College of Business and Technology
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.  Alumni Hall Tracey Payne Chief Administration Officer/Managing Deputy Commissioner for Department of Aviation
12:55 - 2:10 p.m.  Alumni Hall Marty Jalove Business Coach and Meaningful Storyteller, Master Happiness
12:55 - 2:10 p.m. SU 214

Mike Butters

CFO, PeopleFirst Bank
2:20 - 3:35 p.m. Alumni Hall

Jaime di Paulo

President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

2:20 - 3:35 p.m. SU 214

Joe Seliga

Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
4:15 - 5:30 p.m. Alumni Hall Raven Duong

Business Development Associate, World Business Chicago

5:40 - 6:55 p.m. Alumni Hall Linda Del Bosque and Samantha Alvarez Executive Director of Chicago Latina and Founder/Owner of Inspirate Marketing Co
5:40 - 6:55 p.m. SU 216

Davina Ware

Workplace and Career Advisor/Marketing and PR Director, Price Associates & CEO, Upwardly Paved Path

7:05 - 8:20 p.m. SU 214 Alumni Panel Kevin Murray, Octavia Tey, Sean Cullen, Moe Salahuddin, Dan Reamer
7:05 - 8:20 p.m. Alumni Hall Sara Rewienska Founder, Maison Larimelle

Our History

In 2002, College of Business and Management student Lukasz Dobrzynski wanted to start a business conference at Northeastern. He had the idea from a business conference he had attended in his native country of Poland. So, upon his return, he took it upon himself to organize the first International Business Conference with the help of the late Dr. Durward Hofler. Dr. Hofler became faculty advisor for the conference for 14 years until retired in 2016.

The International Business Conference is organized by the College of Business and Technology Student Advisory Council. Professor Tung Cu serves as the faculty advisor, and Vlad Fernandez serves as the staff advisor for the conference this year. 

Our Mission/Testimony

“I witnessed with my own eyes the future business leaders of America […] My God, I simply can’t wait to see where they will all be in five to 10 years because they have the will and enthusiasm to be wherever they want to be [...] If NEIU were the universe, the universe would be in balance and heading toward better days for everyone everywhere.” -Thomas Hyunh, author of “The Art of War - Spirituality for Conflict: Annotated & Explained”

“Our purpose is to give students the opportunity to learn about international business and then use that knowledge to take on international opportunities abroad, whether this is in the form of taking business class or internship in another country or deciding to do consulting for a multinational company, we want to give them the background knowledge their need to be successful at that.” -Alicia Mendoza, IBC Director

"The International Business Conference provided an excellent opportunity to share as well as gain insights into the inner workings of a continuously and fast changing global macroeconomic environment. The experiences of IBC is always enriching because it allows for unique interactions among students at all the levels, academic researchers across different fields of business, and the working professionals with in-depth field experiences." -Dr. Hardik Marfatia, Professor of Economics at NEIU