The Johnnies Blog

How AI Impacts Students Entering the Job Market
Heard enough about artificial intelligence (AI) lately? You’re not alone. Between nonstop headlines and every company jumping on the AI bandwagon, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed on the topic. But here’s the thing: AI isn’t going anywhere.
So instead of tuning it out, the smartest move is to tune in; the more you understand how this technology works, the better prepared you’ll be for whatever’s next.

St. John’s Students Turn Big Ideas into Real-World Impact
At St. John’s University, students are empowered with hands-on learning opportunities to build skills, gain valuable mentorship, and turn visionary ideas into action. One standout event is the business pitch competition known as the Johnnies Innovation Challenge.
In this Q&A, we hear from the three winning student teams of the 2025 Johnnies Innovation Challenge. They share the inspiration behind their business ideas, the skills they gained through participating, and how experiences like this are helping shape their futures.

How Risk Management Fuels This St. John's Grad Student's Entrepreneurial Success
Meet Uday Kumar, founder of start-up company KnotHastags and current international graduate student in the M.S. in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) degree program at St. John’s University.
In this Q&A, he discusses how his real-world experience, from launching a start-up to utilizing campus resources, fuels and supports his entrepreneurial ambitions.

Celebrating Female Entrepreneurs: Five Stories of Representation and Resilience
In today’s world, gender equality is a top priority, and the representation of women in business is crucial and a powerful catalyst for change. Although progress has been made, the journey toward gender parity in entrepreneurship is far from over. That’s why it’s important to celebrate the stories of remarkable women in business—not only to recognize their achievements, but also to showcase the impact of diverse voices at the forefront of business.
Read the stories of five trailblazing female entrepreneurs and St. John’s University alums driving positive change in their communities and beyond.

Making an Impact through Social Entrepreneurship: UN Leader Insights
Are you ready to create a positive impact through social entrepreneurship? In this video, Gina Lucarelli, leader of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Labs, the world’s largest learning network, explains how social innovation, sustainable development, and global collaboration can tackle pressing challenges and ignite positive change. Whether you look to launch a startup or scale your impact, this conversation equips you with the tools and motivation to make a real-world difference.

Entrepreneurship Development Success Story: Meet Albert Bateh
Albert Bateh ’16TCB, a graduate of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University, is a noteworthy alumnus renowned for his inspiring journey in entrepreneurship development. Born into a family running a flourishing textile business for over a century, Mr. Bateh grew up with a strong interest in the field. During his senior year at the University, he launched his first venture, EZ-Net Hair Care, which began his successful entrepreneurial journey.

Student Leaders Launch Consulting Club to Empower Small Businesses
When two business students were looking for early consulting opportunities at St. John's University, they decided to create their own path forward. Now Cecilia Bottino and Jeondo Lee's groundbreaking Consulting Club and Consult Your Community chapter are transforming how students gain real-world experience while supporting small businesses.

St. John’s Alumnus Q&A: Career Pivoting with a Master's Degree
For Michael T. Chidester ’98MBA, going back to college to pursue an advanced degree meant turning the page to an entirely new chapter in his career.
