As a child, I was taught to take risks and color outside the lines. Later, I discovered a love of organizations, particularly visionary companies, and what makes them successful. Creativity, innovation and bringing products to market are not linear processes. It’s messy, complex, exhilarating, frustrating—and it can be done successfully when everything falls into place.
Laura B. Cardinal, PhD, SmartState Endowed Chair + Director, Center for Innovation + Commercialization
Our Focus Is Providing South Carolina with a Strategic Innovation Toolkit So Growing and Established Organizations Flourish.
These are the organizations and people that inspire and motivate us.
We are the strategists, the innovators, the doers who make things happen.

Prof. C Welcomes the Fall 2020 SMTI Class: Let the Discussion Begin!
As a testament to the high-energy group discussion that is a hallmark of Laura B. Cardinal’s Professional MBA (PMBA) class, Strategic Management of Technology + Innovation (SMTI), the majority of… (continued)

The Launch of SMTI II Greeted with Enthusiasm and a Global Pandemic
“I would like to take this time to welcome you to BADM 790-Spring II 2020. This new course is the culmination of over 30 years of research, teaching, and working… (continued)

Prof. C Sends a Personal Message to the Class of 2020
Dr. Laura B. Cardinal, also known as Prof. C to her students, sends a personal, heart-felt message to her former SMTI students and the Class of 2020 graduating from Darla… (continued)