Four alumni panelists dressed in professional clothing sit at a conference table during Dialogue Days at Ball State University’s Miller College of Business.

Connect with faculty, students, alums, and friends during this annual professional development conference and networking session held each fall at Ball State. 

The Miller College of Business organizes the event, inviting industry leaders to share best practices and lessons learned from various in-demand, relevant fields.

Dialogue Days 2026 will be held Tuesday, October 20, through Thursday, October 22 . Dialogue Days is supported by Ball State Financial, a division of Financial First Credit Union.

Dialogue Days 2026 will kick off with two virtual panel discussions. (A third and fourth virtual panel discussion will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.) Advance student registration is only required for the virtual, online panel discussions. All other panel discussions are offered in person on Wednesday and Thursday, and attendance is on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. Arrive a few minutes early to allow for entry into the event. (Students should bring their Ball State I.D.)

DIALOGUE DAYS SCHEDULE FOR 2026


What to Expect

More than 140 alumni from across the nation return to campus to share their experiences leading a range of industries, including manufacturing, financial services, and telecommunications. Networking and social opportunities complement professional development sessions and workshops.

The days are divided into hour-long sessions and panels about a variety of topics from career and professional development to industry-specific discussions, such as:

  • Networking Without the Awkward: How to Build Professional Relationships That Last
  • Behind the Performance Review: What New Professionals Should Know
  • The Investor's Playbook: How Portfolios Are Built, Managed and Measured
  • The Leadership Difference: What Great Leaders Do Differently
  • Audit, Tax or Advisory? Choosing Your Path in Public Accounting
  • Lead Like You Mean It: Confidence, Influence, and Lessons from Women in Business
  • AI in Action: Real Business Problems, Real Use Cases
  • What Have You Done? Turning Marketing Experience into Evidence: Building a Portfolio
  • Finding Your Why: A Business Student Panel on Purpose, Career, and Making Every Semester Count

Want to Participate?

Alumni interested in participating in future Dialogue Days should contact Tammy Estep, senior director of external relations at Miller College, at 765-285-8311. We look forward to hearing from you.