Izmirlian Students, Business Leaders Discuss Digital Transformation at Business and Global Affairs Conference

The Dikran Izmirlian B.S. in Business and Global Affairs program hosted its second annual conference in November, convening students, academics, corporate partners, and civil society stakeholders to discuss “Co-Creation and Digital Transformation.” Aspiring to advance an understanding of the digital world, the conference explored topics around the rise of the digital economy, transitioning from the informal economy, the digital promise, and digital inclusion.

The conference was supported by several companies currently serving as advisors to the program, including AES, BMW, Gap Inc., IBM, Mastercard, and Walmart PolicyLab. In partnership with student teams from the senior cohort, each advising firm sponsored one to two presentations of a public policy-related issue or initiative for analysis and discussion. Student presentations explored topics such as: 

AES – Co-Creation for Social Good: How can AES co-create policy with the federal government to amend the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to increase energy efficiency?

BMW – Data Privacy in a Fragmented Business Environment: As technology and data flows become central to firm-level strategy, how can BMW enhance its digital infrastructure to compete in an increasingly heterogeneous trade and regulatory environment?

BMW – Space Exploration: How can BMW capitalize on opportunities in the evolving space landscape to successfully enter this sector?

Gap Inc. – Bridging the Circularity Gap: How can Gap develop a circular supply chain and leverage partnerships to boost their recycling efforts and meet 90% recycled polyester and 100% sustainable cotton by 2030?

IBM – Red Teaming for AI: What is the appropriate role of red teaming in ensuring safety in the digital economy?

IBM – Sustainable Digital Transformation in the ASEAN Region: How can IBM draw upon U.S. and E.U. experience to help create an ASEAN technology policy regime more conducive to innovation, commercial success, and positive societal development over the next 10 years?

Mastercard – Financial Inclusion: How can Mastercard capitalize on fintech policy trends in the three most promising Southeast Asian countries within the next year and a $500k budget?

Walmart – Bridging the Digital Transformation Trust Gap: How can Walmex leverage new technological innovations and digital upscaling to promote inclusivity and combat the mistrust and exclusion fueled by the digital transformation for its collaborators – labor and suppliers – over the next two to four years?

Walmart – Digital Inclusion Along the Value Chain: What framework, model, or business change can Walmart implement over the next five years to build upon existing relationships of trust with those left behind in the digital transformation through co-creation of solutions using their omnichannel approach in Latin America?

The Class of 2025 Izmirlian students began working on their projects in the spring of 2024, meeting regularly with representatives from their sponsor organizations to develop a customized project scope and conduct preliminary research. By the fall semester, each team had formulated a synthesis of strategy reports, stakeholder engagement plans, policy recommendations, and implementation roadmaps to deliver during the conference. Each presentation was met with critical feedback from subject matter experts, reinforcing Georgetown’s commitment to bridging academic study with real-world impact.

In addition to corporate government affairs leaders, several public sector officials from organizations like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) engaged in the forum to provide perspectives on the cross-sectoral ecosystem with which businesses engage – and how cross-sectoral partnership can advance the public good of global affairs.

Isabella Stratta (BGA’25) discussed the proactive role multinational corporations can take in advancing government initiatives, highlighting her work with the AES team. “In a time where renewable energy policies face many political hurdles, energy efficiency stands out as an area of common ground between public and private sector stakeholders,” she explained. “By leveraging its technology and expertise, AES has the potential to bridge policy gaps, demonstrating how businesses can complement federal efforts to increase energy efficiency and help families in need.”

The Izmirlian Program emphasizes the need for collaboration across both businesses and government to address societal-level challenges in the global community. “By designing solutions that align with public sector goals, businesses can drive sustainable digital transformation while enhancing their market position,” said Christopher Lin (BGA’25), a member of the Walmart team.

The second annual conference underscored the importance of co-creation in shaping digital and economic policies to drive innovation and inclusivity in a rapidly evolving global landscape. As the Izmirlian Program continues to foster these partnerships, it reaffirms its commitment to preparing future leaders who can navigate and influence the intersection of business, policy, and social impact.

To learn more about the Izmirlian Program at Georgetown, please visit https://bga.georgetown.edu. 

-Ally Paik (BGA’25)