Purposeful Progress Conference

Sonoma State University and the Stewart Family Foundation partnered to bring stellar researchers, teachers, and practitioners in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship to the North Bay on October 15, 2025 for a one-day event.  The Purposeful Progress conference was a Strategic Management Society 2025 Conference Extension which explored how entrepreneurial firms compete with trillion-dollar giants, secure capital, and design purposeful business models. 

Speakers included:

• Professor Jay Barney, University of Utah
• Professor Elizabeth Pontikes,UC Davis
• Mr. Zachary Kushel, Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures, Founder and Managing Partner
• Ms. Susan Griffin-Black, Founder & Co-CEO, EO products
• Professor Tony Tong, University of Colorado, Boulder
• Mr. Tony Magee, Founder, Lagunitas Brewing Company
• Mr. Lance Cottrell, President & Chair of Board of Directors, North Bay Angels
• Professor Oana Branzei, Ivey Business School, Canada
• Mr. Brian Bauer, Co-founder, President and CEO, Resynergi
• Ms. Aishwarya Kancharla, Founder AmmammaTati and Sandy Loam
• Mr. Ali Pourghadir (President, Jackson Family Investments and Global Finance Leader at Jackson Family Wines
• Ms. Eva Blaisdell Lady Rocket (Founder Copernic Space)

Professors Nadiya Parekh (SSU), Nandini Rajagopalan (USC), and Damien Wilson (SSU) served as moderators.  Dr. Chris Stewart and Dr. Damien Wilson organized the event.  Over 70 attendees from far and near were present.