A Collision of Innovation

by Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D.

As a convener of thought leaders in the Los Angeles community, we are pleased to welcome Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., President of Loyola Marymount University, as the guest author of this week’s Business Perspective.

In October, Loyola Marymount University partnered with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce to host the second annual Education Summit.

The return of the event, which brings together business leaders, educators, and policymakers to strengthen partnerships between businesses and educational institutions, signals a continued commitment to addressing the needs of an ever-evolving, multigenerational workforce.

Having recently announced my retirement at the end of the academic year, the Education Summit served as an apt moment to consider how institutions can ensure that they thrive independently–and well beyond the tenure–of any single leader. This enduring strength requires the transformative leadership and creative vision of individuals from all backgrounds and fields. Our institutional longevity also demands that we cultivate lasting relationships and impactful partnerships.

At LMU, our exclusive higher education partnership with the Los Angeles Rams epitomizes this spirit of cross-sector collaboration. This first-of-its-kind collaboration between an NFL team and an institution of higher education has charted new pathways in hands-on education and robust professional development: mentorship and networking opportunities, internships, and immersive learning experiences in and beyond the classroom.

Our partnership has flourished because both organizations have held fast to what they are most passionate about: for the Rams, uplifting their regional community of Los Angeles (alongside winning Super Bowl rings, of course); for LMU, shaping our students to live lives of meaning and purpose. And where passions collide, innovations erupt.

We owe our successes to our two organizations’ shared values, open communication, and ongoing flexibility. In short, we aim to model for our students' dispositions and attitudes that will be valuable to them as they navigate a dynamic work world.

As educators and business leaders consider how they might partner at the organizational level, let us remember that constant learning is the antidote to rigidity and the companion of innovation. Let us continue to dream boldly and dream together for the benefit of our students and the betterment of our society–to, as we say at LMU, ignite a brighter world.

And that's The Business Perspective