Ignite Innovation Speaker Series

Real world inspiration.

In the summer of 2020, Etrack launched the Ignite Innovation Speaker Series — where technology and entrepreneurship meet. Inspirational and fearless entrepreneurs and industry visionaries are featured throughout the year sharing stories of grit, resilience and innovation. USD's entire campus community, alumni, partners and community members from San Diego and beyond are invited to participate. The Ignite Innovation Speaker Series is sponsored by USD's Engineering and Computer Science Alumni Council.

Trailblazing Visionaries

Come be inspired! We invite you to explore our past speakers’ biographies and stories of influence, passion and invention.
Ignite Innovation speakers Andrew Billigmeier and Connor Schofield Play Video

Resilience with a Cherry on Top

For our first series talk, guest speakers and USD alumni Andrew Billigmeier '18 and Connor Schofield '17 of Agrishield told their story of becoming agtech-entrepreneurs. Even when faced with a traumatic accident, their passion for Agrishield was their ongoing inspiration. Agrishield specializes in agriculture equipment and design manufacturing, including engineering, CAD and drafting services, general metal fabrication and CNC plasma cutting.

Mara Aspinall

Diagnostics: The Beginning, Middle & End of Healthcare Innovations

For our second series talk, guest speaker Mara Aspinall, Managing Director and Co-Founder of BlueStone Venture Partners LLC and CEO of Health Catalysts Group, tells the pioneering story of her leadership and commitment to the growth of health information technology and healthcare diagnostics. Aspinall is a co-author of Rockefeller Foundation's report on COVID-19, she serves as a professor of practice at ASU and was named one of the 100 Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences by PharmaVOICE magazine.

Save the Date

Save the Date: March 2021

Etrack's third speaker series will be held early in the Spring 2021 semester. Stay tuned for event and speaker details.

Feeling Inspired... Get Involved Today

If you are interested in sharing your inspiring story and impart your expertise with our aspiring entrepreneurs, alumni and community members, we encourage you to reach out to Etrack's co-faculty leads Venkat Shastri, PhD or Jeff Teza.