CBA Showcases Research and Regional Impact at Select LA Summit

The 11th Annual Select LA Investment Summit underscored LMU College of Business Administration's growing influence in shaping economic insight and dialogue across the Los Angeles region. Hosted by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and the World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA), the summit convened global investors, public leaders, and industry experts to explore opportunities for economic growth and foreign direct investment in California.

LMU CBA proudly sponsored the event, with faculty, staff, and students attending the April 28 gathering at the Skirball Cultural Center. Centered on the theme "LA is Open," the summit highlighted Los Angeles' continued position as a leading destination for global investment and innovation. Throughout the day, programming addressed key topics including supply chains, infrastructure resilience, capital access, talent pipelines, and the role of major sports and mega-events in regional economic development.

As a WTCLA board member, CBA Dean Dayle Smith moderated the breakout session "Skills for the Next LA Economy," which featured Danny Varela, chief technology officer at Microsoft; Vincent Calip, associate professor of computer studies and artificial intelligence at Long Beach City College; Dan Gober, executive director at Biocom; and Minna Laajava, consul general of Finland in Los Angeles. The session explored how evolving skill requirements, emerging technologies, and global collaboration are shaping the region's future workforce.

Adding to the summit's research impact, Richard Tang, LMU assistant professor of marketing, presented key highlights from the 2026 California Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Report. Produced in partnership with California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and LMU CBA, the report provides data-driven insights into the forces shaping California's global investment landscape. This year's findings identified Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Germany as the top five sources of FDI into the state.

Tang also contextualized California's long-term economic performance, noting that the state remains one of the world's largest economies and continues to outpace national growth trends in productivity and output. He highlighted California's sustained productivity advantage, particularly in comparison to other major U.S. states, and emphasized its strategic focus on innovation-driven growth.

"Because of California's productivity advantage and economic diversity, the Golden State has been consistently leading in the domestic and global economy," said Tang. "California's economy is anchored in the future."

A team of LMU M.S. in Business Analytics students - Wilson Chatham, Jasmine Cheng, Alexander Frieder, and Dante Shoghamian - supported the development of the report and attended the summit, gaining firsthand exposure to global investment discussions and regional economic strategy in practice.

Stephen Cheung, president and CEO of LAEDC and WTCLA, emphasized the strength of the partnership with LMU CBA, noting, "It was wonderful to see how our partnership has flourished and is now driving important conversations and decisions across the state."

The summit reinforced the critical role collaboration between higher education, industry, and global partners plays in shaping Southern California's economic future. Through applied research, industry engagement, and experiential learning, LMU CBA continues to contribute insights that strengthen regional competitiveness and support sustainable economic development.

"Our long-standing partnership with the WTCLA and LAEDC reflects a shared commitment to advancing a globally connected and economically vibrant region," said Dean Smith. "Through research, collaboration, and industry engagement, LMU CBA is helping strengthen understanding of how international investment drives innovation, competitiveness, and opportunity across Southern California."

For a full recap of the Select LA Investment Summit, including the FDI Report, click here .