#33 SMU Cox’s Strategy for the Next Decade: Talent, AI, and the Business of Higher Ed – Todd Milbourn

About the episode

Southern Methodist University isn’t trying to become Wall Street—and Dean Todd Milbourn is clear about that. What SMU Cox is doing is building a modern business school designed for a fast-shifting economy where talent, adaptability, and real-world engagement matter more than tradition alone.In this episode, Milbourn breaks down how SMU Cox is operating more like a holding company than a legacy institution, with professional schools serving as economic engines that fund long-term academic investment. He explains why the move to the ACC has been a major academic accelerant, how AI is reshaping both jobs and curriculum, and why entrepreneurial thinking—not just entrepreneurship—is becoming a core skill for every graduate.