Tech Cities MN 2015

Minnesota is home to many successful companies that leverage business analytics and innovative solutions to attract talent and increase consumer engagement. More specifically, the Twin Cities have become a hub for both startups and Fortune 500 companies involved in tech leadership, IT solutions, and e-commerce services. The Carlson School, excited about being located in the emerging ‘tech capital of the North,’ recently held the first annual Tech Cities Conference – a learning and networking event that brought together researchers, business professionals, educators and students to share diverse perspectives on the breakthroughs, opportunities, and challenges associated with this changing and growing environment. 

The keynote speaker, Dr. David Reiley, a Pandora data scientist, opened the event with a fascinating presentation on measuring causal effects of online advertising. His past experiences enabled him to share takeaways that included key insights and techniques for improvement in data collection and analysis. After the opening presentation, attendees were able to choose from a variety of sessions covering topics from data analytics and digital marketing to hiring global tech talent and workforce development. 

As a student volunteer, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend two of the sessions and network with important tech professionals from the Twin Cities. All of the presenters were experts on their session topics and provided insights that were both engaging and informative. Throughout the event, questions were welcomed and thoughtful discussions were embraced. 

Overall, Tech Cities was a roaring success. It was great to be a participant of an event where so many people are passionate about what they do, are aware of the importance of technology in business, and are interested in the future of tech in the Twin Cities. I am also proud to be a student in an MBA program that is cognizant of critical trends within today’s business environment and a school that finds new ways to connect students and the business community.  I look forward to the future of Tech Cities at Carlson.