As Poole College continues to lean into its analytics offerings, the insight and expertise of technology executives will be critical for understanding what potential employers look for in future employees. Which is why having Sinclair Broadcast Group’s executive vice president and chief information officer Brian Bark as a member of the advisory board is a huge win for NC State.
And it isn’t the only win Bark has given the university. In the late 1980s, Bark was a Hall of Fame outfielder and pitcher for the university’s baseball team. Originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in ‘1990, he went on to have a stint in the MLB, playing with the Boston Red Sox in 1995, before a career-ending arm injury led him to pivot to his next chapter – a career in business and technology.
His position today as an executive at a Fortune 500 company, assisting companies through their own digital transformations, gets him excited about the path the college is taking.
Poole College’s strategic direction toward preparing students for this data-driven economy is huge, and it’s something I focus on day-in-day-out.
“Poole College’s strategic direction toward preparing students for this data-driven economy is huge, and it’s something I focus on day-in-day-out,” Bark says. “If you look at the wider employer market, those STEM skills are in high demand – biometrics, engineering, business analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence. As quickly as we can assemble the best curriculum while continuing to strengthen the faculty in these areas, that’s where we’ll make our mark as a leading business school.”
Bark initially connected with Poole College when he was asked to serve as a judge for the college’s Leadership and Innovation Showcase. Shortly after, current board member Alex Wallace mentioned to Poole leadership that Bark would be a great addition to the board.
“I am happy to give back in this way,” Bark says of joining the board. “NC State was instrumental in my personal and professional growth. I enjoy taking what I’ve learned in my business career and giving back to students by helping them navigate their own professional journeys.”
I enjoy taking what I’ve learned in my business career and giving back to students by helping them navigate their own professional journeys.
And with a bright future ahead, Bark is eager to help the college along on its journey, too.
“Poole College is really fortunate to be located in the Raleigh area, which is booming and continues to be a business-friendly environment,” he continues. “Combine that with its willingness to connect college with industry, the college is really well-placed to differentiate itself as a top business school.”
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