International Business University (IBU) hosted its second Capstone Converge and Industry Networking Event, bringing together over 400 attendees to celebrate the outstanding final MBA projects of 30 student finalists. Supervised by IBU’s dedicated faculty and evaluated by leading industry professionals, the event was a full day of innovation, passion, and forward-thinking, showcasing the next generation of business leaders.
Graduate students presented their applied research across three core themes: Healthcare and Global Management, Innovation and Digital Transformation, and Financial and Sustainable Development. The event underscored the real-world application of academic learning and offered valuable networking opportunities with industry leaders and executives from companies like Amazon, Google, IBU department leads, and faculty experts.
A distinguished panel of experts representing technology, innovation, healthcare, education, and other sectors brought diverse perspectives to the discussions. Panelists included:
- Nouman Siddiqui – Supply Chain Professor, School of Business, Sheridan College
- Len Carby – Wealth Management Advisor, Mandeville Private Client Inc.
- Nainesh Kotak – Lawyer, Kotak Personal Injury Law
- Dr. Lisa Zingaro – Finance Professor, Pilon School of Business, Sheridan College
- Marc Lijour – Innovation Lead, Cybersecurity and Blockchain, Exaion eDF Group
- Dr. Soosan Naderi – Innovation Lead, Cybersecurity and Blockchain, Exaion eDF Group
- Tom Kanellopoulos – Vice President of Development and Design, Kallo Developments
- Krishna Venkataraman – Microsoft
- Padmalatha Ragunathan – Google
Spotlight on Student Innovation
Several standout projects demonstrated bold, practical solutions to today’s most pressing challenges, particularly in AI, health, and education.
AI and Digital Transformation
- Hayat Scents by Ali Afzal Hayat – A new business venture focused on AI-personalized fragrance.
- CompAIre by Ozge Ozgul Ozyar – An application developed to benchmark excellence using AI.
- Smart Taxation Optimization by Samoshi Arachchige Don – AI solution for optimized Canadian tax planning.
- TANTARA by Amanda Tennakoon – A hybrid recommender app for multilingual news.
- Customer Sentiment in Craft Beer Branding by Temidayo Leonard Adetifa – A project leveraging AI to decode customer sentiment for sustainable craft beer brands.
- FANLINK by Dhrumil Waghela – A platform designed to enhance fan engagement and interaction.
- AI & Outpatient Care Support by Abinaya Manivelan: A project focused on using AI to enhance outpatient care.
- AI & Cardiovascular Care Support by Gourav Rathi: A study on leveraging AI to improve cardiovascular care.
- AI and IoT Powered Home Healthcare by Muneeruddine NA: A project exploring the use of AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) for home healthcare solutions.
- Remote Diabetes Monitoring by UVIDI Iduranga: A project leveraging IoT to facilitate remote diabetes monitoring in Sri Lanka.
Education Impact
- Pathfinder by Michael Marshal: An app developed for empowering educational excellence through AI guidance.
- Budgeting & Financial Literacy by Jasmeen Bhagat: A case study focusing on the impact of financial literacy and budgeting at IBU University.
The event successfully showcased the incredible talent and dedication of graduate students, whose projects demonstrate a clear vision for the future across various industries.
The Capstone Converge event exemplifies IBU’s mission to empower students through experiential learning, industry collaboration, and purpose-driven education. By engaging directly with real-world challenges and showcasing their innovations to professionals and peers, students gain the skills, confidence, and connections to shape their futures with intention.
About International Business University
International Business University (IBU) is Ontario’s first independent, not-for-profit university focused exclusively on business education. With innovative programs, industry partnerships, and a commitment to sustainability integrated from day one, IBU prepares graduates to lead in a global, purpose-driven economy.
