national conference
National Business & Leadership Student Conference
see you in 2026!
AIBL’s National Business & Leadership Student Conference is designed to give Indigenous students and professionals access to relevant business information and expertise, offering a variety of activities geared specifically to enhance and expand educational experiences beyond what is taught through traditional academic methods. During the conference, students engage in several competitions: business plan, elevator pitch, entrepreneur pitch, chapter of the year, and financial literacy challenge. Students are offered leadership roles, gaining valuable presentation, organizational, and project management skills and experience.
Keynote Speakers
Workshops
Networking
Competitions
conference sponsorS
Business plan competition
The Business Plan Competition is an opportunity for students to increase their knowledge and enhance business, leadership, and entrepreneurial experience. The competition is an educational experience for students to learn the process of creating and presenting a business plan. Each business plan will be created and submitted by Chapters through the combined efforts of all participating students with the guidance of business mentors and AIBL advisors. A business plan stage presentation will be presented as a team at the National Conference.
We encourage Chapters to participate if they are interested in:
- creating positive change within their local Indigenous community.
- starting a business, idea, plan, or project.
- enhancing conceptual, organizational, and oral presentation skills.
The competition is separated into three divisions; High School, Tribal College, University, and has a first, second, and third place winner.
- 1st: $1,000
- 2nd: $500
- 3rd: $250
Chapter of
the Year
The Chapter of the Year Competition is an opportunity for students to highlight the unique and dedicated work of their AIBL Chapter. The competition is an educational experience for students to learn the process of creating a stage presentation summarizing yearly Chapter leadership activities including educational activities, community service projects, social activities, fundraising efforts, and integration of Indigenous culture. Each stage presentation will be created and submitted by Chapters through the combined efforts of all participating students with the guidance of AIBL advisors. A chapter of the year stage presentation will be presented as a team at the National Conference.
We encourage Chapters to participate if they are interested in:
- creating positive change within their local Indigenous community.
- sharing how they are actively involved with leadership, culture, community service, and fundraising activities.
- enhancing conceptual, organizational, and oral presentation skills.
The competition is separated into three divisions; High School, Tribal College, and University with a $1,000 cash prize in each category.
elevator pitch
The Elevator Pitch Competition is an opportunity for individual students to give a 60 second speech about a business idea, plan, or project, what they would do, and why someone should hire, partner, invest, or collaborate with them. The competition is an educational experience for students to learn the process of quickly describing a business, idea, plan, or project to their dream prospect if fate placed them in an elevator – where they only have the time it takes to get from the bottom to the top of the building to pitch their business idea.
We encourage Chapters to participate if they are interested in:
- creating positive change within their local Indigenous community.
- starting a business, idea, plan, or project.
- enhancing conceptual, organizational, and oral presentation skills.
There are 25 open slots to compete on a first come, first serve basis. Priority to students active in their Chapter. The competition is separated into three divisions; 14-18, 19-25, 26+, and has a $500 first-place winner for each division.
Entrepreneur Pitch Competition
The Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition is an opportunity for single students to pitch their small business idea to a panel of judges and a live audience. Each student is paired with a business professional mentor to support pre-competition readiness related to presentation, selling, and influencing skills.
We encourage Chapters to participate if they are interested in:
-
sharing a business idea to potential funders
-
competing as a solo emerging entrepreneur
-
strengthening business writing, presentation, and public speaking skills
There are 5 open slots to compete. Must be an active Chapter member. $1,000 first-place winner.
Co-Chapter Competition
The Co-Chapter Competition is an opportunity for AIBL Chapters to network with each other and strengthen problem-solving and presentation skills. Five students from different Chapters will form a presentation group on conference day one. As a group, they will identify a common problem or issue within Indian Country and identify solutions. Each student will be responsible for answering and presenting one of the five questions on stage, during day two of the conference.
We encourage Chapters to participate if they are interested in:
-
networking with other Chapter students
-
strengthening problem-solving, presentation, and public speaking skills
There are 10 open stage slots where 50 students can compete in groups of five. $1,000 first-place group winner, with each member receiving $200.
Indigenous Investor Challenge
A pre-conference competition, the Indigenous Investor Challenge invites students to put their financial skills to the test. This paper trading competition gives students the chance to manage a simulated portfolio, practice financial literacy, and compete for the title of Indigenous Investor Champion. Each student starts with a paper trading account where they trade stocks, ETFs, or options during the competition period. Accounts are tracked and the highest portfolio value wins.
We encourage Chapters to participate if they are interested in:
-
financial literacy
-
strengthening management & accounting skills
- building generational wealth
There are 30 open slots to compete. Must be an active Chapter member. $1,000 first-place winner that will be announced live at the conference.
leadership roles
AIBL’s National Business & Leadership Student Conference is looking for AIBL students eager to gain and strengthen valuable leadership, presentation, and project management skills. Role perks include:
- Free conference registration
- $500
Master of Ceremony | nov 7
Introduce speakers and competitions on stage while keeping the conference moving forward.
Stage Assistant | nov 7
Organize and raffle swag items to audience members and support the MC, speakers, audience, and judges.
Event Assistant | nov 7
Work alongside the Conference Director to maintain overall execution and troubleshoot urgent needs.
Setup + Registration Assistant | nov 7
Set up the conference space, hand out badges, swag, and check in participants for the awards banquet.
Social Media | nov 7
Highlight the conference experience to outside viewers through AIBL’s social media channels.
Presentation Tech| nov 7
Work alongside professional AV technicians to run stage presentations and play transition music.
standout awards
Get noticed and be recognized on stage at the awards banquet. Ten awards, two for each of the five categories. AIBL staff and judges will be quietly observing and paying attention throughout the conference so bring and represent your best self!
business professional
traditional with a business twist
outgoing & friendly
positive & upbeat attitude
inquisitive & engaged
advisor of
the Year
Advisor of the Year honors one AIBL Chapter Advisor for their dedication, hard work, support, and community engagement efforts.
competition mentors
Consult, review, and approve student Business Plan Stage Presentations before students hit the stage at AIBL’s National Business & Leadership Student Conference. Business professionals will be paired with one student Chapter group to help polish, advise, motivate, and mentor through 1-2 virtual meetings between January and February 2025.
- MATCHING: Chapter is matched with one professional business mentor for a two months time period.
- PRESENTATION CREATION: Chapter creates one business plan stage presentation.
- REVIEW #1: Chapter emails presentation to professional business mentor for first-round review.
- MEET: Chapter and professional business mentor meet virtually to talk through presentation edits, additions, and strengths.
- EDIT: Chapter makes recommended presentation edits and changes discussed with professional business mentor.
- REVIEW #2: Chapter emails presentation to professional business mentor for second-round review with optional virtual touch base.
- APPROVAL: Professional business mentor emails AIBL and Chapter with final sign off and approval of presentation.
- SUBMISSION: Chapter submits final presentation by deadline.
competition judges
Review and score student Chapter Business Plans and join a panel of judges for live presentations at AIBL’s National Business & Leadership Student Conference.
- MATCHING: 4-6 judges will be assigned 6-8 written Business Plans each to review before the conference.
- WRITTEN PLAN SCORING: Using provided scoring sheets, judges will have four weeks to review and score 10-page written Business Plans before the conference.
- TRAVEL: Judges travel to the conference to score Business Plan stage presentations in-person.
- STAGE PRESENTATION SCORING: Judges will score 5-minute stage presentations for the Business Plans they were assigned.
- QUESTIONS: Following each stage presentation, judges have 5-minutes to ask students a question about their Business Plan.
- FINAL SCORING: Judges tally up their final scores for an AIBL staff member to collect at the end of the Business Plan competition.
- BANQUET: Judges are invited to join our awards banquet to celebrate Business Plan competition winners.
Advertise your business
AIBL’s National Business & Leadership Student Conference is an opportunity to promote your product, service, or business to Indigenous students and professionals. Purchasing an ad supports AIBL Student Chapters. The student chapter receives a 50% commission for each advertisement sold while gaining a valuable lesson from the selling experience. The remaining 50% supports conference marketing and promotional materials.
conference come to life
