Anderson Students Gain Real-World Insight at International Business Today Conference
Students from Anderson School of Management, Ananya Mulakala and Elizabeth Kent, had the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom this past fall semester by attending the 2025 International Business Today Conference in New York City in early November. Both students were sponsored to participate in the educational and collaborative event.
The International Business Today Conference brings together undergraduate students from around the globe and connects them with top business leaders encouraging networking and mentorship among current and future business professionals.
“The conference was an incredible experience that greatly expanded my view of the business world and significantly boosted my professional network,” said Ananya, a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance and management information systems. Ananya attended the conference with a sponsorship from Selflane, an Albuquerque-based online ordering service.
Elizabeth, a third-year BBA student concentrating in Marketing, described the experience as transformative.
Elizabeth Kent, a third-year BBA student concentrating in Marketing.“For me, as a student at Anderson, this conference was a game-changer. It translated the concepts we study in class into real-world, executive-level dialogue. It provided direct, high-level exposure to crucial topics like leadership development and entrepreneurship. It showed me how leaders are currently thinking and adapting. Meeting people who are actively shaping the future of business has been a huge source of motivation,” said Elizabeth.
Elizabeth attended the conference through a sponsorship from the Priestly/Gardenswartz Experiential Learning Program Fund. This fund was created through donors, Sonya Priestly and Art Gardenswartz, with the intent of supporting student success and hands-on learning opportunities for UNM Anderson students. Priestly is an Anderson alum and received her Master’s in Accounting in 1988.
Elizabeth added, “It reinforced that the investment I'm making in my education at UNM Anderson is a critical step toward achieving global aspirations. The entire event truly invested in my professional growth, and I felt it helped me get my foot in the door with people I otherwise would not have had the chance to meet.”
Ananya echoed the value of the experience, “For me, as a student from UNM, this trip was a vital opportunity in exploring international business trends and industries that we typically may not have exposure to back at home. This experience was extremely supportive in helping to develop my professional and networking skills and giving me the confidence and connections, I'll need to pursue a successful career in business, whatever that career may look like.”
Ananya will graduate from the Anderson in May 2026. Her aspirations for after graduation include being a CFA Level I candidate, with the goal of completing all three levels of the CFA designation. She aspires to build a career in finance, either within the public sector or in banking. She will also be participating in a summer internship in 2026 with Sandia National Laboratories in the Business Operations division. Later down the road, Ananya intends to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration.
Elizabeth is expected to graduate in May 2028 and intends to pursue a career in sales and union organizing, with plans to eventually earn a master’s or a doctorate degree. She currently serves as an Anderson peer success leader, a role that includes aiding fellow business students by answering inquiries and supporting student-focused events throughout the academic year.
Anderson takes great pride in providing experiences such as these that allow students to receive applied and firsthand learning within New Mexico and beyond. It is through our generous donors that these opportunities are made possible and continue to help shape future business leaders.
