S2 Ep18 - Preparing Students for the Workforce, AI in Education, and the Future of Universities – A Conversation with Golisano Institute’s Ian Mortimer

In this episode of The Wilmac Wire, hosts Emily Miller and Steve McDonnell sit down with Dr. Ian Mortimer, founding President of the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship.

Tune in to hear more about:

• How the Institute is reimagining higher education with practical, skills-based programs
• Why courses in sales, project management, coding, and data analytics are central to student success
• The launch of the AI Innovation Hub and what it means for the future of business education
• How partnerships, internships, and weekly “Speaking from Experience” sessions connect students with real-world leaders
• The role of Tom Golisano’s vision in shaping a more affordable, accelerated, and entrepreneurial model for business education

Whether you’re an educator, employer, or professional curious about the future of workforce readiness, this conversation offers a glimpse into how one institution is reshaping the path from classroom to career.

Episode Breakdown

 0:02 Welcome and introduction from Emily Miller and Steve McDonnell
 0:54 Guest intro: Dr. Ian Mortimer, President of Golisano Institute
 4:00 The vision behind the Institute and Tom Golisano’s involvement
 12:00 Embedding sales, project management, and tech skills into the curriculum
 29:00 The AI Innovation Hub and preparing students for a changing workforce
 38:00 “Speaking from Experience” and community engagement in Rochester
 47:00 Looking ahead: building AI leaders for the future

Connect with the speakers

🔗 Emily Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-miller-666b66152/

🔗 Steve McDonnell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-mcdonnell-8659042b/

🔗 Ian Mortimer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mortimerian/

🎙️ Listen to more episodes: https://wilmactech.com/the-wilmac-wire-data-management-cx-ccaas-saas-technology-podcast/