LMU Business School Marks Centennial with Eye on Future of Work

LOS ANGELES, CA – January 09, 2026 – Loyola Marymount University’s College of Business Administration (CBA) has officially embarked on its centennial year, launching a year-long celebration with a high-profile event at SoFi Stadium on January 4. The kickoff, hosted in partnership with global remote staffing leader Office Beacon, celebrated a century of business education while also marking Office Beacon’s own 25th anniversary, creating a powerful symbol of enduring legacy and modern innovation.

The event brought together university leadership, including LMU President Thomas Poon and CBA Dean Dayle Smith, alongside Office Beacon CEO Pranav Dalal. The joint celebration underscored a deep, strategic partnership and set the tone for a year dedicated to reflecting on a rich history and charting a course for the next century of business. "We're proud to commemorate CBA's centennial and reflect on what our history, legacy, and future mean for LMU and the broader Los Angeles business community," said Dean Smith. "Launching this milestone year in partnership with our most valued supporters from CBA and Office Beacon reflects the collaborative spirit that has long defined our approach to business education."

A Century of Educating for the Greater Good

For 100 years, LMU's College of Business Administration has cultivated a reputation that extends far beyond its top-ranked programs. While accolades from publications like U.S. News & World Report—which ranks its undergraduate International Business program #10 and Entrepreneurship #15 nationally—affirm its academic excellence, the college's core identity is rooted in its mission to develop leaders with "moral courage and creative confidence to be a force for good."

This philosophy is not just a motto; it is woven into the fabric of the institution. The college holds the prestigious AACSB International accreditation, a distinction earned by less than 5% of business schools worldwide, signifying a commitment to the highest standards. Central to its mission is the Institute for Business Ethics and Sustainability (IBES), which spearheads numerous initiatives. These include the annual International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition (IBESCC), which challenges students to tackle real-world moral dilemmas, and the D.K. Kim Foundation Business for Good Program, which focuses on designing sustainable business solutions for low-income communities.

As a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), LMU CBA actively integrates the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its curriculum and research. This commitment ensures that students are not only prepared for the complexities of the global market but are also equipped to lead with a conscience, balancing profitability with social and environmental responsibility. The college’s focus on ethical leadership, sustainability, and social justice provides a foundational framework that prepares graduates to navigate and positively influence an increasingly complex world.

The Power of Partnership in a New Era of Work

The joint celebration at SoFi Stadium was more than ceremonial; it highlighted the critical role of industry-academia collaboration in modern education. The partnership with Office Beacon, a company that has scaled to over 5,500 employees across India, the Philippines, and South Africa by pioneering remote staffing solutions, provides LMU students with a direct line to the future of work.

Office Beacon CEO Pranav Dalal, who serves on the CBA Dean's Executive Council, brings invaluable "grassroots insights" from the forefront of global business and technology. His role on the council, which began in late 2024, involves providing strategic guidance on college priorities and ensuring the curriculum remains relevant to the evolving demands of the global economy. This synergy allows the college to adapt its programs in real-time, informed by the very trends and technologies shaping the modern workplace.

"LMU College of Business Administration's centennial honors a legacy of principled leadership and future impact," said Dalal. "I am honored to kick off the centennial celebrations while also jointly marking Office Beacon's own 25-year journey, built on developing people, creating opportunity, and scaling globally with purpose—making it especially meaningful to stand alongside LMU at this milestone moment." This alignment of values—developing people and creating opportunity—forms the bedrock of the partnership, offering students tangible benefits through mentorship, internships, and a curriculum enriched by real-world expertise.

Charting the Next 100 Years

The SoFi Stadium kickoff is just the beginning of a comprehensive, year-long centennial celebration designed to engage students, alumni, faculty, and the broader business community. The packed 2026 calendar reflects the college's dynamic and forward-looking approach, blending tradition with innovation.

Upcoming events include a "New Idea Pitch Competition" in February, the LMU Datathon and a Global Sustainability Symposium in March, and the prestigious International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition in April. The year will also feature specialized forums on family business, entrepreneurship, and global marketing, as well as career-focused events like "Wall Street Week." These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to providing students with diverse, hands-on learning experiences that bridge theory and practice.

This packed schedule of events, from innovation symposiums to alumni networking mixers, is designed not only to celebrate the past but to actively build the future. By fostering an environment of entrepreneurial thinking, ethical consideration, and global awareness, LMU CBA is preparing its next generation of leaders to not only succeed in business but to transform it. The year of reflection and celebration will culminate in a Centennial Gala in December, marking the end of one chapter and the confident beginning of the next.