Name: Unlocking the Return on Education
Start: 2026-04-14T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-04-14T20:00:00-04:00
Location: Pulitzer Hall, Lecture Hall

Unlocking the Return on Education

Columbia University, School of Professional Studies

Pulitzer Hall, Lecture Hall

Registration for this event has now closed.

Registration for this event has ended. If you are still interested in attending and were not able to register, please join us virtually at <a href="https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/j/91810503678" title="https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/j/91810503678" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">this link</a>. Standing still is the fastest way to fall behind. As technology reshapes work, sustainability redraws value and supply chains, and volatility becomes the norm, the real professional edge is no longer title or tenure—it’s mindset, and the ability to continually upgrade how you think, decide, and lead. In this conversation, leaders from across sectors discuss career paths through the lens of return on education—dynamic, cumulative, and compounding over time. Bringing together perspectives from business, technology, nonprofits, and beyond, the discussion looks at professional education as a force multiplier—accelerating careers, sharpening judgment, and expanding influence across roles and industries—and makes the case for lifelong learning as a strategic, career-defining investment.Discussion 6:00-7:00 PM with reception to follow.Speakers:<ul><li>Eli Cohen, Founder, OSMOS; Co-Founder &amp; CEO, Tappify</li><li>Len Elmore, Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Sports Management in the Faculty of Professional Studies</li><li>Mark Ritzmann, Lecturer, MSc in Technology Management Program, Co-Director, SPS AI Lab, Associate Dean, Analytics and Strategic Communications</li><li>Dr. Basil Smikle Jr., Professor of Practice &amp; Director, M.S. in Nonprofit Management Program</li><li>Jessica Thurston, Lecturer, Sustainability Management; Vice President of ESG Strategy, Paramount Global</li></ul>Moderated by:<ul><li>Louise Rosen, Senior Associate Dean of Administration and Communications</li></ul> For questions about this event, please contact sps-events@columbia.edu.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In spring 2026, Frame Your Future, a public series from Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, spotlights the forces redefining organizations and leadership. Featuring practitioner faculty and alumni across sectors, from sustainability to technology, the conversations examine how shifting demands, markets, and new tools are reshaping professional advantage. The message is clear: In a volatile economy, lifelong learning is a strategic investment. Join us to stay sharp and stay ahead. To obtain additional information about program offerings at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, please contact an Admissions Counselor at inquire@sps.columbia.edu. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you require closed captioning, sign-language interpretation or any other disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services, disability@columbia.edu, at least 10 days in advance. Please visit <a href="https://preparedness.columbia.edu/" title="https://preparedness.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Columbia University’s Hub for Emergency Preparedness</a> to stay up to date on the latest campus health and safety policies. This event is open to individuals irrespective of identity and sex.

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Unlocking the Return on Education

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