CBA Advantage
Newsletter

March 2026

CBA Advantage Week

Monday, March 9 - Friday, March 13

CBA Advantage Week for spring 2026 starts next week! Once Spring Break has ended, join us in completing some fun, exclusive activities, and make progress in CBA Advantage.

Activities will activate on Monday, March 9 at 12 a.m. and close on Friday, March 13 at 11:59 p.m. Finish all activities to earn a limited-time badge in Suitable as well as a limited-edition CBA Advantage prize!

Business Knowledge: Test your knowledge on academic advising services in the CBA!

Creative Confidence: Take a selfie or group photo with the CBA Centennial backdrop in the Hilton Lobby!

Global Citizenship: Tell us your thoughts on the opportunities and challenges of upcoming global events in LA!

Leadership Skills: Share why 100 years of business education at LMU matters for future business leaders (such as yourself!)

Moral Courage: Take a photo with someone who has made a difference to you at LMU!

Stay tuned for more details on the week’s activities by following @cba_advantage on Instagram!

Bonus: Once you’ve fully completed the badge, swing by the Undergraduate Programs & Student Engagement Office in Hilton 200 to select a limited-edition prize! You can select from a sweatshirt, a tote, or a roll-up fleece blanket.

Attention May (Spring) 2026 Graduating Seniors

If you applied to receive your degree in spring (May) 2026, please check your Degree Works to confirm whether CBA Advantage is a requirement. If CBA Advantage appears on your Degree Works and is not completed (unchecked), please be sure to have your 2,000 points submitted to Suitable by Friday, April 10, 2026. For questions, contact CBAAdvising@lmu.edu.

Upcoming Virtual Workshops

CBA Advantage Virtual Workshops have resumed for those who need a refresher on getting started. You can always check the full schedule (and Zoom link) on our Get Started page of the CBA Advantage website.

Our March offerings are:

Tuesday, March 10 from 11 – 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 19 from 4 – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 from 2 – 2:30 p.m.

The Zoom link for all workshops is: https://lmula.zoom.us/j/82078998797

Recommended Tips for Submissions

When submitting a reflection to Suitable (written or video), here are some tips for a smooth approval process:

Check to ensure that your experience matches the activity post.
Read all instructions provided in the activity post, including any eligibility requirements.
Answer all prompted questions in entirety.
Meet minimum length requirements as stated in the prompt guidelines.
Ensure that your submissions are your own and reflect your authentic experience/voice.

We want to highlight that CBA Advantage is bound by LMU's Academic Honesty policy, much like curricular coursework would be and our review team will flag any submissions that may conflict with any of the above and follow-up with the appropriate parties, as necessary. This will cause a delay in the approval process for all submissions that need additional review.

Has Your Submission Been Denied? What Happens Next?

Students will receive an email notification for any submission that is denied as well as most approved submissions. Submissions that are denied will outline the reasoning behind the denial, and students will have the opportunity to correct their submission and resubmit on the Suitable app for the appropriate activity. Please be conscious of any submission deadlines associated with the original activity. Any questions about this process can be directed to CBAAdvising@lmu.edu.

Be Featured in CBA Advantage!

Want to be featured in a future CBA Advantage newsletter? We’d love to hear from you! We are looking to highlight students sharing stories about their CBA Advantage experience, and how it has contributed to their growth and engagement in CBA.

If you’d like to potentially be featured in an upcoming CBA Advantage newsletter, complete this short form to tell us more about your experience.

ACTIVITY SPOTLIGHTS

As a reminder, please continue to check CBA Connect, CBA social media, and/or other CBA marketing channels to learn about CBA-wide events. Most CBA-wide events will also appear as CBA Advantage opportunities in the Suitable app. Here are a few upcoming events.

QR Code Activities

CBA Career Connections Office Hours
Professor Mitch Rufca is once again holding office hours in Hilton 062 on Monday and Wednesdays from 3:30pm – 5:30pm and by special appointment here. He can assist students with resume review, job search strategies, interview prep, networking skills, negotiations and more. Students can earn 40 points once per semester for this activity, regardless of how often they utilize office hours. Professor Rufca will have a QR-code for students to scan.

LMU Real Estate Certificate Program
The LMU Real Estate Certificate Program equips students with conceptual, practical and specialized skills and knowledge of various real estate topics. Led by industry professionals (primarily LMU alums), the program features a series of seminars that cover a variety of topics.

For each seminar, students can earn 50 CBA Advantage points. The program is open to all LMU students and held in the Hilton building. The seminars scheduled for this month are listed below. Learn more and register here.

Friday, March 13| Seminar 13: Estate Planning
Friday, March 20 | Seminar 9: Lease Negotiation to Maximize Value
Friday, March 27 | Seminar 2: Real Estate Capital Markets

Task (Reflection) Activities

Faculty Pub Night: Angélica Gutiérrez
Tuesday, March 17 | 5:30 - 7 p.m. | Hannon Library, VDA Suite | Register

Angélica Gutiérrez, professor of management, will discuss her recent publications on "Impostorization: Less Discussed but More Vexing than Imposter Syndrome." Her research suggests that the real challenge facing racially minoritized women in academia is not impostor syndrome, but “impostorization” - the policies, practices, and everyday interactions that cause women of color to question their intelligence, competence, and belonging. From microaggressions to invisibility and inclusion taxation, academia often reinforces these harmful dynamics. This work calls for a shift in the conversation - and meaningful action - to address the systemic forces behind impostorization. Earn 100 CBA Advantage points by submitting a short reflection after the event.

Global Sustainability Symposium: Hydrogen Power: Innovation and Opportunity
Wednesday, March 18 | 5:30 - 7 p.m. | Hilton 100 | Register

Hydrogen is rapidly emerging as a global clean-energy solution. It is a pillar of the European Green Deal's zero-emissions strategy and has become a priority for many Asian countries. In the U.S. and Europe, hydrogen technology is driving innovation and reshaping business models, energy, and transportation. Hosted by LMU’s Institute for Business Ethics and Sustainability and the Center for International Business Education, the Global Sustainability Symposium will explore hydrogen’s expanding role in the global economy. Attendees will gain insight into the policy landscape, technological breakthroughs, and market opportunities shaping the sector - and how forward-thinking companies can leverage hydrogen innovation to lead in the next era of clean energy.

Featured panelists include Tanya Peacock, Managing Director, Eco-Engineers; Katrina M. Fritz, President and CEO, California Hydrogen Business Council; and David Blekhman, Ph.D.,Technical Director, Cal State LA Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility. The program will also feature a presentation from EH Group, a Swiss company at the forefront of fuel cell technology development. A networking reception with the sponsoring chambers of commerce will follow. Earn 100 CBA Advantage points by submitting a short reflection after the event.

Marketing Without Borders: Redefining Global Brand Strategy in the Age of AI
Tuesday, March 24 | 6 - 7:15 p.m. | Hilton 100 | Register

In collaboration with the M-School, the Center for International Business Education presents a panel discussion on “Marketing Without Borders: Redefining Global Strategy in the Age of AI.” This dynamic conversation will explore how digital platforms and AI-driven analytics are reshaping global marketing - empowering even small and mid-sized enterprises to compete, connect, and communicate with audiences around the world. Featured panelists include Paul Woolmington, CEO, Canvas Worldwide; Christie Bishop, Senior Vice President, The Harris Poll; and Lee Maicon, Chief Strategy Officer, INNOCEAN USA. Professors Andy Rohm and Matt Stefl will moderate. Earn 100 CBA Advantage points by submitting a short reflection after the event.

Leading with Values: A Conversation with Trader Joe’s CFO Mitch Nadler
Wednesday, March 25 | 7 - 8 p.m. | Hilton 100 | Register

LMU College of Business Administration welcomes Mitch Nadler, CFO of Trader Joe’s, for the Dreier Chair in Accounting Ethics Distinguished Speaker Series. Moderated by Accounting Professor Larry Kalbers, the conversation will explore Nadler’s career journey - from college to public accounting to the grocery industry - and take a closer look at Trader Joe’s Values Guide and how the values shape the company’s culture, leadership approach, and day-to-day business. Earn 100 CBA Advantage points by submitting a short reflection after the event.

Asynchronous Options (Task Activities)

Please Note: To search for ALL asynchronous options, please select “Activities” --> Select “All” from the categories listed --> Type “asynchronous” into the search bar.

Spring 2026 CBA Advantage Week Badge
Exclusively available Monday, March 9 – Friday, March 13

SP26 CBA Advantage Week: Business Knowledge Activity – 20 points
SP26 CBA Advantage Week: Creative Confidence Activity – 20 points
SP26 CBA Advantage Week: Global Citizenship Activity – 20 points
SP26 CBA Advantage Week: Leadership Skills Activity – 20 points
SP26 CBA Advantage Week: Moral Courage Activity—20 points

REMINDERS

CBA Advantage submissions are governed by LMU Academic Honesty policies. Our student engagement team personally reviews each entry submitted and will notify students if there is a suspected violation regarding their submission.
Enable push notifications in the Suitable App by selecting the notification tab and tapping “Turn on App Notifications.” This is a mobile-only feature – don’t miss out on important reminders!
Remember that file types allowed for submissions will be based on your device. Android & iOS supports JPEG/PNG Images, Video, Powerpoint, & PDF while the web version supports: JPEG/PNG Images, Powerpoint, PDF, Word Documents, Excel Spreadsheets, & Video (MP4, AVI, or MOV)
Expect CBA Advantage submissions to generally take two weeks to go through the approval process.
The only current requirement for CBA Advantage is that students reach a minimum of 2000-points in the Suitable App. It does not require a set number of points per competency area (for example: earning a minimum of 400 points for “Moral Courage”)
Suitable has a “Leaderboard” function to celebrate the students with the top points earned in the CBA Advantage program. Students are welcome to opt-out of participating in the leaderboard function by going to your account settings and selecting “scorecard information/details.”
If you are encountering technical difficulties with the Suitable app, please double-check that your app is operating on the most updated version
You can copy and share activity links using the desktop version of Suitable. For example: https://app.suitable.co/#/institution/404/activities/178592
Events are constantly being added to the Suitable app each week. If something you want to attend through CBA cannot be found in the Suitable app, we recommend waiting until closer to the event or e-mailing CBAAdvising@lmu.edu to double-check if the event will be offered for CBA Advantage points
By completing all activities in an Experience Set, you can earn additional points.
“Independent Work” submissions through your Suitable Portfolio are NOT eligible for CBA Advantage points. This feature of the Suitable App is useful for those who would like to add additional documents, unrelated to CBA Advantage activities, to their e-portfolio. All submissions for the CBA Advantage program must be submitted through the appropriate activity post.
We welcome suggestions from students regarding potential CBA Advantage opportunities! We are always curating new experiences, so encourage you to share your interests and how they could apply to this program!

CBA Advantage Website

Visit the CBA Advantage website for an overview of the program and its requirements. If you need a refresher or help getting started, visit the Get Started page for information on our synchronous and asynchronous workshops and training opportunities.

Questions?

We're here to support you in completing your CBA Advantage journey! Feel free to reach out to CBAAdvising@lmu.edu if you have further questions or if you wish to make an appointment with someone on the CBA Advantage team.