CBA Advantage
Newsletter

October 2026

CBA Advantage Student Spotlight

Name: Abby Reed
Class: Junior
Major: Marketing
Minor: Film, Television, and Media Studies

What's something you've found valuable about your CBA Advantage experience?

The number one thing I have found valuable about my CBA Advantage experience is meeting industry professionals and learning about their real-life career experiences and journeys. When I started my freshman year, I wasn't sure which area of marketing I wanted to get into. After pushing myself to attend these events, hear from speakers, and have calls with them afterward, I now have a better sense of direction and am fully confident in what I want to pursue.

What advice do you have for students as they complete their CBA Advantage requirements?

Go to as many events as you can! The CBA societies always have events to network with industry professionals, and it's also a chance to meet peers who are interested in the same field as you. I think it's important to go to any kind of CBA event, even if it doesn't necessarily relate to your major, because an important part of being a business student is having a well-rounded education. Moreover, don't be afraid to chat with speakers after the event! A quick conversation about what you learned from them and why it matters to you speaks volumes and can possibly lead you down a similar road as them.

What has been your favorite event/activity related to CBA Advantage?

There have been a few Marketing Society events I've attended where I met female LMU alumni working in the field I would like to get into: entertainment. I learned a lot from just that one hour and have been able to relate to them in how they turned a hobby into a job they absolutely love.

How has CBA Advantage helped you so far in your academic and/or professional endeavors?

CBA Advantage has helped me reflect on events and think about exactly what I learned from them. I am able to take that knowledge into account for my personal career journey and seek out what I see fit for myself.

Congratulations to Top Earners

Congratulations to the following individuals for being in the Top 10 for total points earned as of the end of the 2025-2026 academic year!

Anthony Baca
Hailey Berg
Remi Bunikiewicz
Giovanni LaRocca
Zehan Mistry
Abby Reed
Jose Rodriguez-Alcorta
Cecilia Santiago Montoya
Alejandra Taylor
Brent Torres

These individuals earned an exclusive CBA Advantage pin to wear proudly to professional events and/or to commemorate this achievement!

Attention: Fall (December) 2026 Graduating Seniors

If you applied to receive your degree in fall (December) 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), be sure to have your 2,000 points submitted to Suitable by Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. For questions, contact CBAAdvising@lmu.edu.

CBA Advantage Week - Finish Strong!

There are two days left of CBA Advantage Week! You have until TOMORROW (Friday, Oct. 2) at 11:59 p.m. to find exclusive activities to kick-start or make progress toward your CBA Advantage goals. Even if you are not eligible to earn the entire badge, you can still complete at least 80 points worth of activities this week!

See the Fall 2026 CBA Advantage Week Badge in Suitable to find out what’s active and available for you to complete!

New Activity Alert! Follow @cba_advantage on Instagram

Want to stay updated on all things related to CBA Advantage? Be the first to learn about opportunities like CBA Advantage Week? Curious to learn about what activities are available for points? Follow @cba_advantage on Instagram!

As a bonus, you can earn 20 points by uploading a screenshot that clearly shows you are following the account. Click here for the Follow CBA Advantage on Instagram activity in Suitable.

New Activity Alert! Attend a CPD Recruiter Info Session

LMU’s Career and Professional Development (CPD) Office regularly hosts recruiter information sessions with specific companies. If you attend one of these dedicated recruiter information sessions, you are eligible to complete this activity once per term (regardless of how many sessions you attend within the term). Here is the eligibility criteria:

This is intended specifically for those who attend CPD’s Recruiter Information Sessions in Fall 2026 (September 2026 – December 2026)
The information session must be hosted/sponsored by CPD and the event should be posted on Handshake
The event will usually have the title: [Company Name] Info Session, but the phrase “Information Session" or "Info Session” must be in the title.
The event must be independent of anything that is or has already been offered in Suitable for CBA Advantage Points (i.e. the event or webinar cannot currently exist or have previously existed in Suitable as its own activity)

Once you have attended an eligible session, please complete the Fall 2026: Attend a CPD Recruiter Information Session activity and answer the reflection questions while meeting minimum length requirements. Upcoming sessions that are eligible include: Henkel Info Session on Thursday, Oct. 1 and the Fox Info Session on Monday, Oct. 12. Learn more about what is scheduled on Handshake.

October Virtual Workshops

CBA Advantage Virtual Workshops are available for those who need a refresher on how to get started. You can always check the full schedule (and Zoom link) on our Get Started page of the CBA Advantage website.

Thursday, Oct. 8 from 2 - 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 16 from 11 - 11:30 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 23 from 10 - 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 11 - 11:30 a.m.

Feel free to RSVP for a specific workshop to receive a reminder. The Zoom link for all workshops will be: 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.

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

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, Oct. 2 | Seminar 15: Finding Your Role in a $17 Trillion Industry
Friday, Oct.16 | Seminar 8: Engineering and Environmental in Real Estate

Task (Reflection) Activities

Hilton Distinguished Entrepreneur Lecture: Alok Chanani
Tuesday, Oct. 6 | 5 - 6 p.m. | Hilton 100 | Register

Alok Chanani is the co-founder and CEO of BuildOps, an AI-powered enterprise software platform that streamlines operations for commercial specialty contractors in the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire safety trades. Under his leadership, BuildOps achieved unicorn status with a $1 billion valuation after raising roughly $250 million—including a $127 million Series C round—to modernize tech infrastructure across the commercial trade sector. Prior to founding BuildOps, Chanani served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, leading combat operations in Iraq, and subsequently held leadership positions across commercial real estate, construction management, and venture development. He holds a B.S. from Cornell University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Earn 100 CBA Advantage points by submitting a short reflection after the event.

Leadership in the C-Suite: United CEO Scott Kirby on culture, innovation, and leading a century-old company through transformation
Wednesday, Oct. 14 | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | Hilton 100 | Register

In an era defined by disruption, technological change, and rising expectations for leadership, what does it take to build an organization that not only succeeds but endures? As CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby leads one of the world's largest and most visible enterprises, where long-term strategy, operational excellence, culture, and customer expectations converge every day. In this candid conversation with Dean Dayle Smith, Kirby will reflect on the decisions that shaped his leadership philosophy, the value of investing in the customer experience, and what it takes to keep large organizations resilient amid constant change. From AI and analytics to talent, trust, and growth, this discussion will explore the opportunities and challenges shaping today's business landscape and the leadership lessons that matter most for the next generation. Earn 100 CBA Advantage points by submitting a short reflection after the event.

Right-of-Way Real Estate: Which Way LA?
Thursday, Oct. 15 | 6 - 8 p.m. | Hilton 100 | Register

LMU's Real Estate Advisory Council invites everyone to a panel discussion on careers in Right-of-Way (ROW) real estate. Our panelists will discuss their career paths, why they stay in ROW, where they are headed next, and how AI is changing their work.

Marcus Pigrom '02 — Partner, Desmond, Marcello & Amster LLC
Ray Mehler — Executive Committee Treasurer, International Right of Way Association; Owner, Right of Way Management Consulting
Julie Del Rivo, J.D. '98 — Assistant Chief Counsel, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
John Delavigne '98, J.D.'03 — Senior Director, Acquisitions, Paragon Partners Consultants
Moderated by Lara Boyko, J.D. — Broker/Owner, Skyline Realty Group / Skyline Land Services

Earn 100 CBA Advantage points by submitting a short reflection after the event.

LA84 Documentary Community Screening: "The Corner"
Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 6 - 8 p.m. | Hilton 100 | Register

"The Corner" is an inspiring short documentary directed by Academy Award winner John Ridley and Emmy Award winner Jeanmarie Condon. Commissioned as the LA84 Foundation’s first documentary, the film follows Daysi Garcia and the Los Angeles boxing club she founded to provide vulnerable middle-school youth with mentorship, a safe community, and a positive path forward. Daysi credits the LA84 Foundation with helping transform her life and the lives of countless young people. The screening will be followed by a conversation and Q&A with Coach Daysi and Renata Simril '93, president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation, exploring the transformative power of youth sports and the lasting impact of mentorship, opportunity, and community. 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.

Check out our Digital Badges!

Indeed Job Search Academy

Workshop 1: Seven Steps in a Successful Job Search – 75 points
Workshop 2: Ready Your Resume – 75 points
Workshop 3: Ace the Interview – 75 points
Workshop 4: Evaluating Opportunities + Negotiating Pay – 75 points
Workshop 5: Eight Strategies for Career Management – 75 points

Business Skills Essentials

Body Language – 50 points
Communication – 50 points
Email Tone + Etiquette – 50 points
Listening – 50 points
Time Management – 50 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 the file types allowed for submission will depend on your device. Android & iOS support 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 about two weeks to complete the approval process.
The only current requirement for CBA Advantage is that students earn at least 2,000 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 their 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 up-to-date 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 emailing 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.